Harry Hawker
Harry George Hawker was an Australian pioneer aviator, Aircraft Designer, Engineer and Test Pilot.
Harry became one of the world's greatest aviators.
Harry left Australia for England in 1911, and in less than 12 months was Chief Test Pilot for the Sopwith Aviation Company.
The Sopwith Camel was one of the most successful fighters of WW1 and this was largely down to the work of Harry Hawker, who tested this often difficult aeroplane with his usual skill.
He also had a major involvement in pioneering techniques required for deck landings during 1917, firstly from the Cunard liner ‘Campania’ and later from HMS Furious at Scapa Flow.
In addition to his flying abilities, his mechanical knowledge contributed greatly to the testing of new engines such as those used by French squadrons whom he visited on a regular basis.
Harry Hawker, pioneer aviator, in an undated photo.
Harry's Story
On 14th November 1917, Hawker married Muriel Alice Peaty at St Peter's Church, Ealing, in West London. Romance had blossomed when he first met 23 year old Miss Peaty, a sporting young lady who had started to drive whilst she was still a schoolgirl.
One day in Richmond Park during 1915, her car had stopped due to a build-up of water in the poor quality petrol available to private motorists during war time. Hawker, who happened to be passing in his exotic French Gregoire, managed to get her car going and later invited her out for a drive in his 27/80hp Austro-Daimler.
In an attempt to impress, he drove very fast and with so much flamboyance that they ended up in a ditch beside Brooklands Aerodrome. Thankfully they were both unhurt but many have speculated that if his future in-laws had been aware of the accident, Muriel would have been banned from having anything more to do with the 26 year-old Australian.
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At Sopwiths in 1916, Hawker had the personal use of a small aircraft, the Sopwith Bee. He was also a regular competitor in motor car and motorcycle races at Brooklands before and after the First World War.
Among his competitive achievements were a number of altitude records set in June 1913. He also won a £1,000 consolation prize in the Daily Mail Circuit of Britain Waterplane Race on 25 August 1913.
Trans-Atlantic Crossing Attempt
After war ended, Hawker was joined by navigator Lieutenant Commander Mackenzie Grieve, who he had met during his dealings with the RNAS, and the pair attempted to win the £10,000 Daily Mail prize for the first flight across the Atlantic over ‘72 consecutive hours’.
On 18th May 1919, they set off from Newfoundland in the Sopwith Atlantic, a 360hp V12 Rolls-Royce Eagle-engined biplane.
The Atlantic, as the name suggests, was specifically designed for the challenge although disappointingly after just 14½ hours of flight they were forced to change course with an overheating engine.
The aircraft had a 330-gallon fuel tank which weighed in 6,150lbs and simply over-stressed the engine.
They diverted to reach the busy North Atlantic shipping lanes and located the freighter ‘Danish Mary’.
They ditched the ailing aircraft and were successfully rescued from the Atlantic Ocean.
After failing to arrive as planned, they were presumed lost at sea with Muriel Hawker receiving a long telegram from H M King George V, expressing his condolences.
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Short Life
Hawker had the opportunity to drive Louis Coatalens's 350hp V12 18.3-litre Sunbeam at the second post-war motor race meeting at Brooklands on 19th June 1920.
During the practice session however, a front tyre burst as he drove high-up on the famous Brooklands Banking.
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He wrestled with the big car just long enough to keep it on the track and managed to reach the Railway Straight where he subsequently crashed through a fence and down a four foot drop towards the main London to Portsmouth railway line.
​Hawker was unhurt, declaring himself 'impressed by the very nice car'.
Later that day, he also took part in the fourth race of the day, this time in a smaller, six-cylinder Indianapolis Sunbeam which beat his rival's Vauxhall at an average speed of 99.5mph.
Hawker was killed on 12 July 1921 when his Nieuport Goshawk crashed while he was climbing away from Hendon Aerodrome while practising for the Aerial Derby.
"Medical examination led physicians to believe that Hawker had suffered a haemorrhage and that he had tried to get back down on the ground."
Fire in the air and spinal tuberculosis were considered contributing factors to his death.
"The king sent a message of condolence, asserting 'The nation had lost one of its most distinguished airmen.''
Hawker is buried in St Pauls' Church, Hook, Chessington, Surrey. He was survived by his wife, Muriel, and two daughters.
