Norman Blackburn (aviation pioneer)
Encyclopedia
Captain Norman W G Blackburn (May 25, 1896 - January 1966), was a World War I pilot, director of Blackburn Aircraft
, and pilot instructor.
Flying School at Hendon. He served at the front, flying, among other aircraft, the Kangaroo
bomber. At the end of the war, he was stationed with the newly formed RAF
at Fern Hill, as Acting Major commanding 132 Squadron.
, founder of Blackburn Aircraft. After World War I, he returned to Leeds
to join his brothers Robert and Charles in building, and in Norman's case flying, aeroplanes. He was an early member of the RAF Club
. Norman managed the RAF Reserve training school at Brough Aerodrome
from January 1924 to 1940, where many RAF pilots and foreign airmen were trained - over 10,000 pilots all told. Among the celebrities who learned to fly there was The Hon Mrs Victor Bruce, who then flew around the world in her Blackburn Bluebird
, only eight weeks after completing her training.
Norman served as a director of Blackburn Aircraft from 1920 to 1958, and Joint Managing Director from 1949.
production at the Sherburn-in-Elmet
factory near Leeds, and having returned to Brough in 1943, he was in full charge of all Blackburn factories in Yorkshire
from 1944. He lived his latter years in Bridlington
in the East Riding of Yorkshire
, where he was an enthusiastic and supportive member of the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club.
Blackburn Aircraft
Blackburn Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer that concentrated mainly on naval and maritime aircraft during the first part of the 20th century.-History:...
, and pilot instructor.
World War I
He saw action as a pilot in the First World War in the RNAS, qualifying on 5 June 1915 as Flight Sub-Lieutenant at the Grahame-WhiteGrahame-White
Grahame-White was an early British aircraft manufacturer, flying school and later manufacturer of cyclecars.The company was established as Grahame-White Aviation Company by Claude Grahame-White at Hendon in 1911...
Flying School at Hendon. He served at the front, flying, among other aircraft, the Kangaroo
Blackburn Kangaroo
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bomber. At the end of the war, he was stationed with the newly formed RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
at Fern Hill, as Acting Major commanding 132 Squadron.
Blackburn Aircraft
Norman was the son of George Blackburn, and brother of Robert BlackburnRobert Blackburn (aviation pioneer)
Robert Blackburn, OBE, FRAeS was an English aviation pioneer and the founder of Blackburn Aircraft.He was born in Kirkstall, Leeds, Yorkshire, England...
, founder of Blackburn Aircraft. After World War I, he returned to Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
to join his brothers Robert and Charles in building, and in Norman's case flying, aeroplanes. He was an early member of the RAF Club
Royal Air Force Club
The Royal Air Force Club is situated at 128 Piccadilly, London. While it is sometimes referred to as a gentlemen's club, membership is open to men and women who hold or have held commissions in the RAF, PMRAFNS, Reserve Forces and Commonwealth and friendly foreign air forces.-History:The Royal...
. Norman managed the RAF Reserve training school at Brough Aerodrome
Brough Aerodrome
Brough Aerodrome is located at Brough, East Riding of Yorkshire, England.The site was first used by the Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Company during World War I for the testing of seaplanes....
from January 1924 to 1940, where many RAF pilots and foreign airmen were trained - over 10,000 pilots all told. Among the celebrities who learned to fly there was The Hon Mrs Victor Bruce, who then flew around the world in her Blackburn Bluebird
Blackburn Bluebird IV
|-See also:-External links:**...
, only eight weeks after completing her training.
Norman served as a director of Blackburn Aircraft from 1920 to 1958, and Joint Managing Director from 1949.
World War II
In 1940, Robert Blackburn asked Norman to take charge of Fairey SwordfishFairey Swordfish
The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War...
production at the Sherburn-in-Elmet
Sherburn-in-Elmet
Sherburn-in-Elmet is a town and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England, situated close to Selby. It is one of only three places in the area to be explicitly associated with the ancient Celtic kingdom of Elmet via featuring the kingdom's title in its name, the others being...
factory near Leeds, and having returned to Brough in 1943, he was in full charge of all Blackburn factories in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
from 1944. He lived his latter years in Bridlington
Bridlington
Bridlington is a seaside resort, minor sea fishing port and civil parish on the Holderness Coast of the North Sea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has a static population of over 33,000, which rises considerably during the tourist season...
in the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, where he was an enthusiastic and supportive member of the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club.