15 Facts About Harry Hawker

Harry Hawker was the chief test pilot for Sopwith and was involved in the design of many of their aircraft.

Harry Hawker died on 12 July 1921 when the aircraft he was to fly in the Aerial Derby crashed in a park at Burnt Oak, Edgware, not far from Hendon Aerodrome.

Harry Hawker was born on 22 January 1889 at Moorabbin, Victoria in Australia, the second son of George Harry Hawker, a blacksmith, and Mary Ann Gilliard Anderson.

On 14 November 1917, Harry Hawker married Muriel Alice Peaty at St Peter's Church, Ealing.

In England, Harry Hawker obtained a job with the Commer Car Company, moving to the Mercedes company in January 1912 and then to Austro Daimler.

Harry Hawker soon persuaded Sopwith to teach him to fly, and succeeded in making his first solo flight after only three lessons.

Harry Hawker appears to have been the first person to perform an intentional spin and recovery, demonstrating in 1914 one method to return to level flight from this unusual attitude.

At Sopwiths in 1916, Harry Hawker had the personal use of a small aircraft, the Sopwith Bee.

Harry Hawker was a regular competitor in motor car and motorcycle races at Brooklands before and after the First World War.

In 1914, Harry Hawker returned to Australia to demonstrate the advanced Sopwith Tabloid, which he had helped design.

Harry Hawker later named his second daughter Mary after the ship that had rescued him and Grieve.

Harry Hawker was largely responsible for our growth during the war.

Harry Hawker was killed on 12 July 1921 when his Nieuport Goshawk crashed while he was climbing away from Hendon Aerodrome while practising for the Aerial Derby.

Harry Hawker is buried in St Pauls' Church, Hook, Chessington, Surrey.

Harry Hawker was survived by his wife, Muriel, and two daughters.