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Major-General Sefton Brancker, RAF
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Major-General Sefton Brancker, RAF
Major-General Sir William Sefton Brancker (1877-1930), civil aviation pioneer, portrayed by Lieutenant Percival Anderson during the First World War when he was Comptroller-General of Equipment on the Air Council. Brancker was trained for the British Army at Woolwich, joining the Royal Artillery in 1896. He served in the Second Boer War and later for a number of years in India, where he made his first flight in 1910. On 18 June 1913 he was awarded the Royal Aero Clubs Aviators Certificate no. 525. During World War I, he held important administrative posts in the Royal Flying Corps and later the Royal Air Force including Director of Air Organisation and Director of Military Aeronautics. In 1917, Brancker briefly served as the General Officer Commanding Royal Flying Corpss Palestine Headquarters and then its Middle East headquarters. Promoted to major-general in 1918, he became Controller-General of Equipment in January of that year and Master-General of Personnel of the newly-formed Royal Air Force in August 1918. The following year, he was appointed KCB and with the introduction of RAF-specific ranks, he became an air vice-marshal. In 1922 he was made Director of Civil Aviation, and worked assiduously to stimulate UK interest in the subject with both local authorities and flying clubs. He encouraged Manchester and other cities to construct municipal airports and airfields. He participated in several long-distance survey flights, notably with Alan Cobham. He was an ardent supporter of the development of British civilian air services connecting London to British colonies and dominions overseas. In 1930, he was killed when the R101 airship crashed near Beauvais France on 5 October 1930, during its maiden voyage to India. Sir Sefton was chairman of the Royal Aero Clubs (RAeC) Racing Committee from 1921 to 1930 and his dynamic leadership led to the RAeC forming the Light Aero Club scheme in 1925, which helped provide the UK clubs with examples of such new and improved aircraft types as the de Havilland Moth and Avro Avian. Date: 1917
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Brancker Jan18 Major Master Monocle Personnel Sefton
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph captures Major-General Sir William Sefton Brancker (1877-1930), a pioneering figure in the history of civil aviation. Trained as a British Army officer at Woolwich, Brancker joined the Royal Artillery in 1896 and saw action in the Second Boer War and India. In 1910, he made his first flight, and during World War I, he held several important administrative posts in the Royal Flying Corps and later the Royal Air Force, including Director of Air Organisation and Director of Military Aeronautics. In 1917, Brancker served as the General Officer Commanding of the Royal Flying Corps' Palestine and Middle East headquarters. Promoted to major-general in 1918, he became Controller-General of Equipment and Master-General of Personnel of the newly-formed Royal Air Force. In 1919, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Bath (KCB) and became an air vice-marshal. In 1922, Brancker was appointed as the Director of Civil Aviation, and he worked tirelessly to stimulate UK interest in civil aviation. He encouraged local authorities and flying clubs to construct municipal airports and airfields, and participated in several long-distance survey flights. Brancker was an ardent supporter of the development of British civilian air services connecting London to British colonies and dominions overseas. He chaired the Royal Aero Club's Racing Committee from 1921 to 1930, and his dynamic leadership led to the formation of the Light Aero Club scheme in 1925, which helped provide UK clubs with new and improved aircraft types. Tragically, Brancker was killed on 5 October 1930, when the R101 airship crashed near Beauvais, France, during its maiden voyage to India.
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