Roy Farrell
Encyclopedia
Roy C. Farrell was the American co-founder of Cathay Pacific Airways along with Australian Sydney de Kantzow
.
Farrell was born in Vernon, Texas
and went to China
during World War II
to start an export business (Roy Farrell Import-Export Company in Hong Kong
. He joined the China National Aviation Company in 1942 and flew in Burma to supply the war effort. He left CNAC to establish Cathay Pacific with Sydney de Kantzow
.
Prior to forming Cathay Pacific, Farrell attempted to purchase a ship to take advantage of what he rightfully perceived to be an opening market in China to goods previously unavailable to it before the war. Farrrell was unable to locate any ship for purchase and instead bought a C-47 (more commonly referred to as a DC-3) and this airplane was named Betsy. He, along with a crew he assembled, flew the plane from New Jersey
through South America
, Africa
, India
, and China
eventually ending the trip in Shanghai
. The airline subsequently purchased another C-47 and this plane was named Niki. Betsy is currently on display in the Hong Kong Science Museum
and a plane painted to resemble Niki is on display at Cathay Pacific's offices at Chep Lap Kok in Hong, Kong; the fate of the original Niki is unknown.
As the business developed, Farrell focused more on the shipping aspects of the company and de Kantzow focused more upon flying. The early Cathay Pacific pilots were referred to as Syd's Pirates.
Both Farrell and de Kantzow were ex-air force pilots who had flown The Hump
, a route over the Himalayan Mountains. Each man put up HK$1 to register the airline. Although initially based in Shanghai, the two men moved to Hong Kong to found Cathay Pacific Airways. They named it "Cathay" because it was the medieval name given to China, derived from "Khitan", and "Pacific" because Farrell speculated that they would one day fly across the Pacific. The Chinese name for the company comes from a Chinese idiom meaning "Grand and Peaceful State".
Farrell sold his stake the airline and returned to the United States
in 1948.
Farrell died in Vernon, Texas in 1996. He was married twice and had two sons and one daughter and had nine grandchildren. His son Roy C. Farrell Jr is an inventor and lives in Vernon.
Sydney de Kantzow
Sydney de Kantzow BS was the Australian co-founder of Cathay Pacific Airways along with American Roy Farrell.De Kantzow was born in Sydney, Australia and served during World War II as a pilot for the Royal Australian Air Force. Both de Kantzow and Farrell were ex-air force pilots who had flown The...
.
Farrell was born in Vernon, Texas
Vernon, Texas
Vernon is a city in Wilbarger County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 11,660; it was 11,077 in the 2005 census estimate. Vernon is the county seat of Wilbarger County....
and went to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to start an export business (Roy Farrell Import-Export Company in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. He joined the China National Aviation Company in 1942 and flew in Burma to supply the war effort. He left CNAC to establish Cathay Pacific with Sydney de Kantzow
Sydney de Kantzow
Sydney de Kantzow BS was the Australian co-founder of Cathay Pacific Airways along with American Roy Farrell.De Kantzow was born in Sydney, Australia and served during World War II as a pilot for the Royal Australian Air Force. Both de Kantzow and Farrell were ex-air force pilots who had flown The...
.
Prior to forming Cathay Pacific, Farrell attempted to purchase a ship to take advantage of what he rightfully perceived to be an opening market in China to goods previously unavailable to it before the war. Farrrell was unable to locate any ship for purchase and instead bought a C-47 (more commonly referred to as a DC-3) and this airplane was named Betsy. He, along with a crew he assembled, flew the plane from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
through South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
eventually ending the trip in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. The airline subsequently purchased another C-47 and this plane was named Niki. Betsy is currently on display in the Hong Kong Science Museum
Hong Kong Science Museum
The Hong Kong Science Museum is a science-themed museum in Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong, located next to the Hong Kong Museum of History.The museum has a DC3 airliner suspended from the ceiling....
and a plane painted to resemble Niki is on display at Cathay Pacific's offices at Chep Lap Kok in Hong, Kong; the fate of the original Niki is unknown.
As the business developed, Farrell focused more on the shipping aspects of the company and de Kantzow focused more upon flying. The early Cathay Pacific pilots were referred to as Syd's Pirates.
Both Farrell and de Kantzow were ex-air force pilots who had flown The Hump
The Hump
The Hump was the name given by Allied pilots in the Second World War to the eastern end of the Himalayan Mountains over which they flew military transport aircraft from India to China to resupply the Chinese war effort of Chiang Kai-shek and the units of the United States Army Air Forces based in...
, a route over the Himalayan Mountains. Each man put up HK$1 to register the airline. Although initially based in Shanghai, the two men moved to Hong Kong to found Cathay Pacific Airways. They named it "Cathay" because it was the medieval name given to China, derived from "Khitan", and "Pacific" because Farrell speculated that they would one day fly across the Pacific. The Chinese name for the company comes from a Chinese idiom meaning "Grand and Peaceful State".
Farrell sold his stake the airline and returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1948.
Farrell died in Vernon, Texas in 1996. He was married twice and had two sons and one daughter and had nine grandchildren. His son Roy C. Farrell Jr is an inventor and lives in Vernon.