H.G. Hawker, Airman: His Life and Work With a foreword by Lt.-Col. J.T.C. Moore-Brabazon, M.C., M.P.
London: Hutchinson, 1922. Octavo, blue cloth, 320 pp., frontispiece and 15 plates. The cloth is heavily stained, front endpaper missing and frontispiece loose. Aside from some mild scattered foxing, internally in very good order. Scarce biography of the Australian aviation pioneer Harry Hawker, written by his wife Muriel Hawker, nee Peaty.
Born in 1889 in Melbourne, Hawker was an accomplished mechanical technician and joined the Sopwith company during its early years. Renowned as a test pilot, designer, engineer and long distance aviator, Hawker is now best remembered for his attempt to fly across the Atlantic in 1919. Although forced to ditch in the Atlantic, Hawker and his co-pilot were the first to fly 1000 miles (for which they were rewarded some 5,000 pounds in prize money by the London tabloid Daily Mail). This account by his wife, of which the Atlantic flight comprises some four long chapters, is especially interesting. The aviators were rescued by a Danish ship that carried no wireless, and were presumed dead for some days. Public jubilation and a royal audience awaited them upon return to Britain.
Two chapters of this book concern Hawker's return to Australia, where he did much to improve the popularity of flying and promote the interests of the Sopwith company. Item #2538
Price (AUD): $180.00