Test Pilot Fairey Aviation:Flight Lieutenant Christopher Stainbank Staniland 26th June 1942

Thanks to Lesley for her post in another thread



Famous Brooklands racing driver and Chief Test Pilot for Fairey Aviation. Flight Lieutenant Christopher Stainbank Staniland RAF was born in Finchley, Middlesex, son of Geoffrey and Millicent Staniland. Winner of the 1931 2x12hr Brooklands race in an MG. Was relief driver for Captain George Eyston (but did not drive) in September 1935 at Utah when he broke the World Land 24hr Record by driving a Rolls Royce car 3,372 miles in 24hr. Involved with the Multi-Union project in 1938. He had a long and active flying career with many narrow escapes. In 1925 he was attached to the British High Speed Flight from which pilots for the 1929 Schneider Trophy Races were chosen. As the Chief Test Pilot for Fairey Aviation, he was killed when his Fairey Firefly broke up in mid air over Sindlesham, Berkshire in 1942.Christopher Staniland (1905-1942) - Find a Grave...

FLIGHT LIEUTENANT CHRISTOPHER STAINBANK STANILAND
Service Number: 18229
Regiment & Unit/Ship
Royal Air Force (RAFO)

Date of Death
Died 26 June 1942

Age 38 years old

Buried or commemorated at
KEDDINGTON (ST. MARGARET) CHURCHYARD

Sec. 2. Row A. Grave 2.

United Kingdom

• Country of ServiceUnited Kingdom
• Additional InfoSon of Geoffrey and Millicent Staniland, of Keddington. Chief Test Pilot to the Fairey Aviation Company.

 

Staniland was killed in an accident on 26 June 1942, aged 36, when his aircraft, Z1827, the second Fairey Firefly prototype, broke up over Sindlesham (now in the Borough of Wokingham). He had taken off from Harmondsworth, and crashed in a field near Hatch Farm at Sindlesham Mill. He died before receiving medical attention. The investigation of the crash by the Accidents Investigation Branch concluded that a structural failure had occurred as the aircraft pulled out of a dive. He is buried in St Margaret's Church, Keddington, near Louth, in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire.

He was born in Fallow Corner, North Finchley; the second son of Geoffrey Staniland, a solicitor, and his wife Millicent Ellen Marianne Leather. The family later moved to Lincolnshire. He attended King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth, then Tonbridge School in Kent.[1]

Geoffrey Staniland was killed in Belgium on 14 April 1915, serving with the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment. Millicent died in 1949.[1]

Staniland joined the Royal Air Force in March 1924 on a Short Service Commission.[1] He undertook his flying training at Shotwick. He was posted to 41 Squadron in February 1925 and remained with the unit until September 1928, when he was posted to the High Speed Flight RAF at Calshot. In November 1925, he was promoted to Flying Officer, and four years later to Flight Lieutenant, by then in the Reserve (RAFO), Class A. He relinquished his commission in the RAFO in March 1937, on completion of service, and was permitted to retain his rank.

Chris Staniland - Wikipedia

 

His Father

SECOND LIEUTENANT GEOFFREY STANILAND
Regiment & Unit/Ship
Lincolnshire Regiment

1st/4th Bn.

Date of Death
Died 13 April 1915

Age 34 years old

Buried or commemorated at
DRANOUTER CHURCHYARD

VI. 1.

Belgium

• Country of ServiceUnited Kingdom
• Additional InfoSon of Robert William Staniland, of Hussey House, Boston, Lincs; husband of Millicent E. Staniland, of The Abbey House, Louth, Lincs.
• Personal InscriptionTHE LORD BLESS THEE AND KEEP THEE

 

His Uncle

CAPTAIN MEABURN STANILAND
Regiment & Unit/Ship
Lincolnshire Regiment

1st/4th Bn.

Date of Death
Died 29 July 1915

Age 35 years old

Buried or commemorated at
DRANOUTER CHURCHYARD

VI. 15.

Belgium

• Country of ServiceUnited Kingdom
• Additional InfoSon of Robert William Staniland, of Hussey House, Boston; husband of Frances Sophia Dickinson, of Wyberton, Boston, Lincs. His brother, Geoffrey is buried nearby.