13 Facts About Jim Mollison

James Allan Mollison MBE was a Scottish pioneer aviator who, flying solo or with his wife, Amy Johnson, set many records during the rapid development of aviation in the 1930s.

Jim Mollison was educated at The Glasgow Academy and Edinburgh Academy.

Jim Mollison was attracted at an early age to flying.

At the age of 22, Jim Mollison became a flying instructor at the Central Flying School, again setting the record for being the youngest in this role.

Whilst gaining a reputation as a playboy, Jim Mollison was a skilled pilot who, like many others, took to record breaking as a means of "making his name".

Jim Mollison had flown commercially for Charles Kingsford Smith's ill-fated Australian National Airways.

In 1933, using the same aircraft, Jim Mollison flew from England to Brazil in 3 days, 13 hours, staging through West Africa, the first solo east-west South Atlantic crossing.

In November 1936 Jim Mollison made his last major record attempt, a flight from Croydon to Cape Town, South Africa.

Jim Mollison was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services with the ATA.

Jim Mollison later settled in London and ran a public house.

Jim Mollison married Maria Clasina E Kamphuis on 26 September 1949 at the Maidenhead Register Office.

Jim Mollison abused alcohol and, in 1953, the Civil Aviation Authority Medical Board revoked his pilot's licence.

Close to Mildenhall airfield, the start for the 1934 England-Australia Air Race, that the Jim Mollison's took part in.