Frank Barnwell
Encyclopedia
Captain Frank Sowter Barnwell OBE
AFC
FRAeS
BSc
(1880 – 2 August 1938) was an aeronautical engineer, who performed the first powered flight in Scotland and later went on to a career as an aircraft designer.
in Edinburgh
and the University of Glasgow
. From 1898 to 1904 he worked for Fairfield Shipbuilding before going abroad for two years. In 1906 he joined his brother Harold
in business and established the Grampian Motors & Engineering Company in Stirling
where between 1908 and 1909 they set about building a prototype aeroplane. In 1909 Harold piloted the first powered flight in Scotland
, in a field in Causewayhead under the Wallace Monument
. Frank Barnwell went on to become chief engineer for what became the Bristol Aeroplane Company
in Bristol
, UK, designing aircraft including the Bristol F.2 Fighter
, Bristol Bulldog
and the later Bristol Blenheim
.
Barnwell was killed in a plane crash in 1938. He was piloting a small aircraft he had designed and built himself, the Barnwell B.S.W., it struck a bump when taking off from Bristol (Whitchurch) Airport
and stalled crashing onto a nearby road
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
FRAeS
Royal Aeronautical Society
The Royal Aeronautical Society, also known as the RAeS, is a multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.-Function:...
BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
(1880 – 2 August 1938) was an aeronautical engineer, who performed the first powered flight in Scotland and later went on to a career as an aircraft designer.
History
Barnwell was born in Lewisham, Kent and educated at Fettes CollegeFettes College
Fettes College is an independent school for boarding and day pupils in Edinburgh, Scotland with over two thirds of its pupils in residence on campus...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
. From 1898 to 1904 he worked for Fairfield Shipbuilding before going abroad for two years. In 1906 he joined his brother Harold
Harold Barnwell
Harold Barnwell was an aircraft pioneer. He was born in Lewisham, Kent, the son of Richard Barnwell, a director of the Clyde shipbuilder, Fairfields. Barnwell was brought up at Elcho House in Balfron, Stirlingshire, and educated Fettes College in Edinburgh...
in business and established the Grampian Motors & Engineering Company in Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
where between 1908 and 1909 they set about building a prototype aeroplane. In 1909 Harold piloted the first powered flight in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, in a field in Causewayhead under the Wallace Monument
Wallace Monument
The National Wallace Monument is a tower standing on the summit of Abbey Craig, a hilltop near Stirling in Scotland. It commemorates Sir William Wallace, the 13th century Scottish hero....
. Frank Barnwell went on to become chief engineer for what became the Bristol Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aeroplane Company
The Bristol Aeroplane Company, originally the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, was both one of the first and one of the most important British aviation companies, designing and manufacturing both airframes and aero engines...
in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, UK, designing aircraft including the Bristol F.2 Fighter
Bristol F.2 Fighter
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft...
, Bristol Bulldog
Bristol Bulldog
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Andrews, C.F. The Bristol Bulldog . Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1965.* Barnes, C.H. Bristol Aircraft Since 1910. London: Putnam, 1964....
and the later Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
.
Barnwell was killed in a plane crash in 1938. He was piloting a small aircraft he had designed and built himself, the Barnwell B.S.W., it struck a bump when taking off from Bristol (Whitchurch) Airport
Bristol (Whitchurch) Airport
Bristol Airport, also known as Whitchurch Airport, was a municipal airport in Bristol, England, three miles south of the city centre, from 1930 to 1957. It was the main airport for Bristol and area...
and stalled crashing onto a nearby road
Family
Frank and Marjorie (née Sandes) Barnwell had three sons who all lost their lives in the second world war:- Pilot Officer David Usher Barnwell DFC, RAFVR, of No. 607 Squadron RAFNo. 607 Squadron RAFNo. 607 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1930 as a bomber unit in the Auxiliary Air Force and changed in 1936 to the fighter role. It fought in that role during World War II on the European front and in Asia...
died aged 19 on 14 October 1941. - Flight Lieutenant Richard Antony Barnwell, RAF of No. 102 Squadron RAFNo. 102 Squadron RAFNo. 102 Squadron was a Royal Air Force night bomber squadron in World War I and a heavy bomber squadron in World War II. After the war it flew briefly as a transport squadron before being reformed a light bomber unit with the Second Tactical Air Force within RAF Germany. Its last existence was as a...
died aged 24 on 29 October 1940. - Pilot Officer John Sandes Barnwell, RAF of No. 29 Squadron RAFNo. 29 Squadron RAFNo. 29 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was first raised in 1915, and is one of the world's oldest fighter squadrons. The second British squadron to receive the Eurofighter Typhoon, it is currently the Operational Conversion Unit for the RAF's newest fighter.-Service in World War I:This unit was...
died aged 20 on 19 June 1940.
Honours and awards
- 7 June 1918 - Captain Frank Sowter Barnwell. Aeroplane Designer, The British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Limited to be an Officer of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for services in connection with the War. - 1 September 1918 - Capt. Frank Sowter Barnwell, OBE awarded the Air Force CrossAir Force Cross (United Kingdom)The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
in recognition of distinguished service.
External links
- RAF history article on Barnwell's role in the Bristol Blenheim
- Story from The Scotsman on the memorial
- The High Endeavour of a Splendid Man - FlightFlight InternationalFlight International is a global aerospace weekly publication produced in the UK. Founded in 1909, it is the world's oldest continuously published aviation news magazine...
article on Barnwell