15 Facts About Bill Humble

William Humble MBE was a well-known pre-Second World War aviator, known as an air racer and for his aerobatic displays.

Bill Humble was an officer in the Royal Air Force Special Reserve, and the Auxiliary Air Force.

Bill Humble is the grandfather of British television presenter Kate Humble.

Bill Humble was born on 14 April 1911, the son of William Bill Humble senior, a mining engineer and mine owner in the South Yorkshire coalfield, and associated with the Staveley Coal and Iron Company.

Bill Humble was educated at Repton School and the University of Cambridge, following his father in qualifying as a mining engineer in 1930.

Bill Humble learnt to fly in the Auxiliary Air Force in 1929, and on 27 July 1930 he was commissioned as a pilot officer on probation in the Special Reserve of the Royal Air Force, his rank was confirmed on 25 October 1931, and he was promoted flying officer on 27 January 1932.

Bill Humble was a founder member of No 504 Squadron, and during this period received flying instruction from Arthur Marshall.

Bill Humble transferred to the Reserve of Air Force Officers, Class A on 16 May 1932.

Bill Humble married for the first time in 1936, but divorced just a few years later.

Bill Humble was initially involved in testing Hurricanes as they came off the production line at the rate of seven a day.

In mid-1945, Lucas was promoted to the board of the company, and in early January 1946, Bill Humble was appointed the new chief test pilot.

Bill Humble retired from testing in 1948, remaining with Hawker as a sales executive.

Bill Humble continued to give demonstration flights, and his skill as a display pilot is credited with helping to win Hawker sales.

Bill Humble returned to the United Kingdom permanently in the late 1980s when his health began to deteriorate.

Bill Humble died on 1 March 1992, survived by his second wife, Georgina, his son and his daughter.