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| Click Here For Full Artist Print Indexes | Aviation History Archive |
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Aviation Art Prints  Pilot Signatures World War One Signatures  Robert H McIntosh |
Wing Commander Robert H McIntosh DFC AFC | Wing Commander Robert H McIntosh DFC AFC Text from 1981 Known worldwide as 'All Weather Mac', he is in 1981 at the age of 87 enjoying a well earned retirement in Devon. His early years in the Mercantile Marine and as a World War One Army Despatch Rider were followed by a fantastic flying career that lasted 54 years from 1917 to 1971. He held civil licence No.314, issued in 1919, the Double Master Pilot's Certificate, and flew 23,681 hours as Captain of an aircraft in 143 different types. Mac learned to fly with No.4 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps in 1917, after which he served in the Middle East. In October 1918 he was posted to No.214 Squadron, Royal Air Force in France where he converted to Handley Page 0/400 bombers, the aircraft he was to become so closely associated with. Early in 1919 he transferred to No. (Communication) Squadron, and in September 1919 the RAF released him so that he could join Handley Page Transport at Cricklewood Aerodrome, London. He was one of the first pilots to fly civilian versions of the HP 0/400 carrying passengers, freight and mail on international scheduled air services to the continent. Sixty years later in 1979 Mac signed a limited number of flown covers to commemorate the diamond jubilee of these air services from Cricklewood to Paris and Brussels. He was promoted to Chief Pilot of Handley Page Transport in 1921, and earned his famous nickname, All-Weather Mac, on 20th October of that year when he flew an HP 0/400 into Croydon from Paris in very foggy conditions. In 1924 Mac transferred with the Handley Page Transport aircraft to Imperial Airways on its formation, and flew with this airline until forced to resign in 1927 when he made an east-west Atlantic attempt in his own specially modified Fokker F.VIIA 'Princess Xenia' G-EBTS (ex KLM H-NADK) with Colonel James Fitzmaurice. Also in 1927 Mac made a long-distance attempt with Bert Hinkler, but the flight had to be anandoned in Poland in severe adverse weather conditions. From 1928 to 1931 Mac was personal pilot to Major Andrew Holt flying his Fokker F.VIIB G-EBZJ all over Europe. On 6th November 1931 Mac took off from London in a single-engine DH80A Puss Moth (G-ABJO) at the start of his epic flight from England to Cape Town and back. His passenger was the Hon. Mrs Westenra, the owner of the aircaft and thanks to his skills as a pilot they returned safely on 16th January 1932 despite having to risk their lives many times. This was the first British flight across the Sahara Desert and the first by a light aircraft of any sort. In 1933 he joined Spartan Airlines which was merged into the original British Airways in 1935, but he left in 1938 for Airwork, which was the start of a long association with them. At the outbreak of World War Two Mac rejoined the Royal Air Force and served with distinction, becoming Commanding Officer of No.280 Air-Sea Rescue Squadron flying Warwicks. After the war Mac returned to Airwork and flew to many countries of the world as Chief Pilot. While with this airline he was Commandin Officer of No.622 Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force from 1950 until it was disbanded in 1954. In 1951 Mac found new excitement in air racing and in 1952 won the 'Daily Express' Air Race. A surprise was sprung on him in 1962 when he became the subject of 'This Is Your Life' on BBC television. Mac took part as a competitor in the 1969 ' Daily Mail' Transatlantic Air Race, and in 1971 in his 77th year he was flying operationally in Angola protecting the Benguela Railway from the air. Mac is a Vice-President of the Handley Page Association and of the Croydon Airport Society, and in 1979 he returned to the site of the former Croydon Airport to officially open McIntosh Close, a street named after him. In 1911 Mac dived into the Thames to save a woman from drowning and for this he was awarded the Bronze Medal of the Royal Humane Society. In 1940 he save a boy from drowning in Scotland and was awarded a Certificate by the Royal Humane Society. Mac is very proud of these awards which exemplify his service to others. Indeed he has served his sovereign and his country well in war and peace in the Royal Flying Corps, in the Royal Air Force, and in pioneering and developing civil aviation. Truly, All-Weather Mac is Mr. Aviation himself. end of 1981 text. Robert McIntosh died on 9th April 1983.
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| Wing Commander Robert H McIntosh DFC AFC - Signed Aviation Art Prints, Paintings and Drawings |
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This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts. Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269. Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com
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