Alan Samuel Butler

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Alan Butler (22 November 1898 – 24 May 1987), born as Alan Samuel Butler, was a British aviator and, as claimed in his obituary in

De Havilland Aircraft Company — which he financed — until 1950, a year when De Havilland employed 20,000 people and was building the Comet
, the world's first commercial jet airliner.

He was born in Gloucestershire near Bristol in 1898 to Marion (née Cochran) and Samuel Butler, a prosperous merchant in Bristol and inventor holding a number of patents. His father died in July 1906 leaving 7-year old Alan wealthy. His Scottish-born mother remarried in 1913 when Alan was at Eton.

Europa Rundflug 1930
Alan Butler and his co-pilot Hubert Broad in Berlin-Tempelhof
Butler's personal Phantom III Rolls-Royce. It was believed its special windscreen might prove aerodynamic
The same shape of windscreen on an aircraft of the same period

Always an enthusiast for flying, he finished school during the

Newfoundland where he made his own air-survey business[1] later Aerofilms Limited owned by Aircraft Operating Company
.

In 1921 Butler asked Geoffrey de Havilland to build him an aircraft to Butler's own specification. This new aircraft was the first DH37A and Butler named it Sylvia after his sister. Pleased with the aeroplane and impressed by the De Havilland company staff he lent his financial support to the new venture and took the chair of the De Havilland Aircraft Company and held it from 1923 until 1950.[1]

In 1925 Butler married Lois Knox-Niven (née Reid) and they had two children, a daughter Carol and a son David.[2]

He toured Europe in his new aircraft in 1923 — the first English private owner to do so — before leaving for

Second World War.[2]

When he left De Havilland in 1950 there were 20,000 employees. His colleagues described him as "conscientious to a degree and outspoken almost to a fault."[1]

Butler also had a 250-ton ketch also called Sylvia and made regular trans-Atlantic voyages in her. Sylvia was fitted with a complete refrigeration plant.[1]

He was active in

yachtsman, in a road accident in 1972. In 1973, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Aero Club.[3]

Alan Butler died aged 88. He was survived by his daughter Carol Horton.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Mr Alan Butler. Obituary, The Times, Wednesday, 27 May 1987; pg. 18; Issue 62779
  2. ^
    doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/67682
    . Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  3. ^ "The Medals & Awards of the Royal Aero Club". royalaeroclub.co.uk.

External links

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