Franklyn Leslie Barnard (2 November 1896 – 28 July 1927) was a British pilot, who took part in 1920s

air races The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...

and airline flights. He was also known as Captain F. L. Barnard.

Early life

Frank Barnard was born on 2 November 1896, the son of Owen Barnard, a stockbroker's clerk. He was once reported to be a cousin of Captain

C. D. Barnard Charles Douglas Barnard (8 December 1895 – 7 August 1971) was a British pilot, who took part in 1920s air races and record-breaking flights. Early life Charles Barnard was born on 8 December 1895, the son of Charles Gilbert Barnard. He was onc ...

, a pilot who was also notable in air racing events, but that was disproved in the results of the 1901 UK census.

World War I

After flying training, Barnard was appointed Flying Officer in the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

, and in July 1916 he joined No. 18 Squadron in France. On 22 October 1916, 2nd Lt Barnard was piloting

FE.2b Between 1911 and 1914, the Royal Aircraft Factory used the F.E.2 (Farman Experimental 2) designation for three quite different aircraft that shared only a common "Farman" pusher biplane layout. The third "F.E.2" type was operated as a day and n ...

(No. 4929) from Laviéville with his observer Lt F.S. Rankin. Rankin was hit by bullets from an attacking aircraft, and Barnard prevented Rankin from falling overboard, then made an emergency landing. Rankin died, and Barnard received injuries that made him unfit for service for a further year. Barnard was awarded the AFC ( Air Force Cross).The National Archives file AIR 76/23/19 In late 1918, he served with

No. 24 Squadron RAF No. 24 Squadron (also known as No. XXIV Squadron) of the Royal Air Force is the Air Mobility Operational Conversion Unit (AMOCU). Based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, 24 Squadron is responsible for aircrew training on C-130J Hercules, A400 ...

, flying VIPs and other personnel on communications flights in UK and France.Flight, 11 August 192
Capt. F. L. Barnard, O.B.E., A.F.C.
/ref>

Instone Air Line

On 13 October 1919, he was employed by

Instone Air Line Instone Air Line was an early British airline from 1919 to 1924. Along with other private airlines of the time, it was absorbed into Imperial Airways. This airline is not to be confused with Instone Air Line (1981) of Stansted, which operated ...

, flying parcels and mail in an

Airco DH.4 The Aircraft Manufacturing Company Limited (Airco) was an early British aircraft manufacturer. Established during 1912, it grew rapidly during the First World War, referring to itself as the largest aircraft company in the world by 1918. Air ...

between Cardiff, Hounslow Aerodrome and Paris, and he remained its chief pilot until 1924.

1920s air racing

On 9 September 1922, he won the first

King's Cup Race The King's Cup air race is a British handicapped cross-country event, which has taken place annually since 1922. It is run by the Royal Aero Club Records Racing and Rally Association. The King's Cup is one of the most prestigious prizes of the ...

, in

A (G-EAMU) at

Croydon Aerodrome Croydon Airport (former ICAO code: EGCR) was the UK's only international airport during the interwar period. Located in Croydon, South London, England, it opened in 1920, built in a Neoclassical style, and was developed as Britain's main airpo ...

, having flown 810 miles over a cross-country course at an average speed of 123.6 mile/h. The aircraft was in the blue and silver colours of Instone Air Line, named 'City of York'.Lewis 1970 He raced in the DH.4A (G-EAMU) again, in the 1923 King's Cup Race, and later used DH.50 (G-EBFP) in the 1924 race. On 4 July 1925, he won the fourth King's Cup Race in A.W. Siskin V (G-EBLQ) at Croydon Aerodrome, having flown two laps each of 804 miles, at an average speed of 141.7 mile/h. On 9 July 1926, he flew the Bristol 99 Badminton (G-EBMK) in the 1926 fifth King's Cup Race, but had to make a forced-landing after a fuel feed problem.

Imperial Airways

On 31 March 1924, Instone Air Line merged with

Daimler Airway Daimler Airway was an airline subsidiary of the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA)'s Daimler Company. It was created to use some of the assets of the failed ventures Airco and its subsidiary, Aircraft Transport and Travel, which was acquired ...

Handley Page Transport Handley Page Transport Ltd was an airline company founded in 1919, soon after the end of the First World War, by Frederick Handley Page. The company's first planes were Handley Page Type O/400 bombers modified for passenger use. They flew a Lo ...

, and

British Marine Air Navigation Co Ltd British Marine Air Navigation Co Ltd was a short-lived British airline operating flying boats across the English Channel in 1923 and 1924. It merged with three other airlines in 1924 to form Imperial Airways. Formation British Marine Air Navig ...

to form

Imperial Airways Imperial Airways was the early British commercial long-range airline, operating from 1924 to 1939 and principally serving the British Empire routes to South Africa, India, Australia and the Far East, including Malaya and Hong Kong. Passenger ...

, and Barnard was appointed chief pilot of the new organisation. He made many notable flights with celebrities of the period, such as route-proving flights to Egypt and India.

Personal life

On 3 June 1927, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) in the King's 1927

Birthday Honours The Birthday Honours, in some Commonwealth realms, mark the reigning British monarch's official birthday by granting various individuals appointment into national or dynastic orders or the award of decorations and medals. The honours are presen ...

.Flight, 9 June 1927, p. 40
Birthday Honours
/ref> On 28 July 1927, Barnard died in a flying accident while flying the Bristol Type 99A Badminton (G-EBMK). He was performance testing alternative propellers on the aircraft in preparation for entering the 1927 King's Cup Race. The engine failed after take-off from

Filton Aerodrome Filton Airport or Filton Aerodrome was a private airport in Filton and Patchway, within South Gloucestershire, north of Bristol, England. Description The airfield was bounded by the A38 road to the east, and the former London to Avonmouth r ...

, and the aircraft stalled from a height of about 80 ft.

References

Bibliography

* Henshaw, Trevor. 1995. ''The Sky Their Battlefield: Complete List of Allied Air Casualties from Enemy Action in WWI''. Grub Street * Lewis, Peter. 1970. ''British Racing and Record-Breaking Aircraft''. Putnam * The National Archives file AIR 76/23/19 {{DEFAULTSORT:Barnard, F. L. 1896 births 1927 deaths English aviators Royal Air Force officers Commercial aviators Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)