Alex Henshaw RIP
 

It is reported that Alex Henshaw has passed away. One of the very finest of test pilot's and one of the many pioneers of aviation.

RIP sir, you will not be forgotten.

Short biographies here -

http://www.angelfire.com/sd2/spitfirefactory/man.htm

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Henshaw

I have several books by Mr Henshaw. Some signed.

I will treasure these forever.

God Bless You Sir.


C.

"Sigh" for Alex.
Loved his books, much underrated.
watp,iktch

I had the honour of taking wine over a long lunch with him early last year and he was truly magnificent company to spend time with. Not a man to mince words and I learned so much from him.
After my unscheduled arrival on terra firma last Autumn he was most supportive in telephone calls to me stating I had a long way to go to catch up with his unpremeditated arrivals, during the war, and to 'get back in the saddle' as quickly as possible.
The troops at Duxford, in particular, will miss him greatly.
What a pleasure, and huge privilege, to have known this truly great English gentleman.

Truly one of the greats of aviation - whom Geoffrey Quill described as "an aviation phenomenon."

Although never a development test pilot, his contribution to the war effort as a production test pilot was enormous - matched, or even outshone, only by his other amazing aviation achievements.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1..._Churchill.jpg
Castle Bromwich, Summer 1941

A couple of years ago, he donated his papers, photographs, trophies and art collection to the RAF Museum, and funded a curator to catalogue the collection, because he wanted future generations to know about the contribution made by civilian pilots in the country's hour of need.
I don't know if they're available for viewing yet, but worth a visit if/when they are.

I agree Fw. A fascinating man and delightful company. He was still as bright as a button and, when not face to face with him, it was easy to forget his advanced years. While speaking to him on the telephone early last year, I asked if he could email something to me. A chuckle was followed by "Email? Dear me, I've just turned 92. I don't use email. I'll post it to you."


FL


Posted in another forum by 'Mark12'
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...Henshaw001.jpg

This year was the 70th anniversary of Alex' acquisition of 'XF - the famous Mew Gull in which he set the England-South Africa and return record 2 years later.

A record which still stands some 68 years on.

Farewell to one of the greatest aviators of all time.

Very sad news indeed.
I was lucky enough to spend a day and a half with him back in the summer while putting an article together. Bearing in mind he was just weeks away from his 94th birthday, I was amazed by his enthusiasm and passion for all things aviation. A true gent. I'm afraid we will never see his like again...:sad:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...aw_mewgull.jpg

The Mew Gull in which, in 1939, Alex Henshaw set a record for solo flight between London and Cape Town which, as BEagle says, still stands to this day.

He flew the same aircraft to victory in the 1938 Kings Cup, over a triangular course of just over 1000 miles. His average speed of 236 mph remains (I think) the fastest ever Kings Cup victory.

FL

A great man and friend
 

http://www.avcollect2.co.uk/buccanee...hurchill02.jpg
Outside the office at Castle Bromwich
http://www.avcollect2.co.uk/buccanee...arch_2005a.jpg
Flying again from Duxford in March 2005 (92 years old!)
http://www.avcollect2.co.uk/buccanee...lex02_06bb.jpg
http://www.avcollect2.co.uk/buccanee...ex01_13_aw.jpg

Alex,
you never liked computers much so don't know if you'll get this?
You are one of the finest men I have ever had the privilege to know and also call a friend!

You are equally one of, if not the finest aviators my country has ever known!
You were a man of honour, integrity and justice in every sense of the word!
I shall miss our lunches and phone chats putting the World to rights in only the way we could!

Your energy, friendship and encouragement as you know, kept me going during some dark days
over the last 10 years! I only trust I can continue to instil the core values of men like yourself
into my Son as he grows? As I know if he is a 10th of what you were, he shall one day be a fine man!

Our Country and Birmingham has lost one of its heroes!
The Cape records shall always be yours and no one can deny,
when a Merlin is heard in the skies for years to come, it shall remain... Always... Your signature!

I shall miss you very much, I shall never forget you and what you stood for!
You put the 'Great' in Great Britain!
Thank you for all you did for me and my Country, ill raise a glass or two when next in Cape Town
God bless you
Your friend
Andrew

http://www.avcollect2.co.uk/buccanee..._july_1998.jpg

I shall never forget from his book "sigh for a merlin", how he used to navigate by colomns of smokes from factories (Coventry ?) between layers of clouds when testing factory spitfires....he even did that gliding with a dead Merlin in the nose and made it to airfield !
Is there an equivalent today, that we ignore ? I don't think....plastic brains have taken over....

CPT, it was cooling towers at Hams Hall power station near Birmingham as I recall. I don't know whether Hams Hall is still there, but I could see steam clouds above a large power station somewhere near Birmingham while flying up to Edinburgh the other day - and I immediately thought of Alex!

I hope that the Breighton folk will be able to air G-AEXF and the Arrow Active (Alex owned and bailed out of the other Active early in his flying career) alongside Spitfires and the Lancaster at a few displays this summer as a tribute to a remarkable aviator.

I shall raise a pint tomorrow night.

Treadders

Hams Hall
 

Hi Treadders,
the towers were taken down some years ago now!
I often glance over to my right when returning back to Brum on the M6 just before Junc 5 Northbound! You can see the entire area that was once the airfield and a huge blue building (betterware) stands in exactly the spot the hangers were! Many times even more poignant when returning from a day with Alex, usually with the sun going down!!

I wonder if the debate of the hidden Merlins shall surface again now?
I heard there was new evidence a few years ago! Would be awesome to dig them up, whatever state they were in?

Snaps

Hello Treadigraph,

Me too ! I use to fly helicopters to offshore rigs, some of them are equipped with very big flares, when flying on top or even between 2 layers of clouds we still can spot the condensed columns....me too I always think to Alex...

I can only reiterate others' sentiments - a truly outstanding aviator.

Just thinking about it makes me wish that a British version of the film "The Aviator" could be made - about Alex Henshaw, of course!

SD

Ive often thought what an awesome film the flight of the Mew Gull would make!
ALL TRUE and a REAL story of guts and determination and just about every other amazing thing someone could say about someone and what they set out to do!!!
Snaps

Tonight
 

Many of you might not have seen the Spitfire tribute outside
what was once the main gate to the factory at Castle Bromwich?
The Spitfires were rolled across the road from there onto the airfield for testing!
Alex attended the ceremony some years ago!

Anyway, I didn't like it much at first but have grown to admire it greatly!
At night, the Spitfires are lit and it really does look quite magnificent!

Tonight some cadets from 165 ATC Squadron at Castle Vale and I placed
some flowers on the island below the great aircraft and said a few words to mark the passing of this great man and friend!

I trust people don't mind me posting these but I would like to share them with everyone!
Birmingham shall never forget you Alex!
Andrew
http://www.avcollect2.co.uk/buccanee..._flowers01.jpg

http://www.avcollect2.co.uk/buccanee..._flowers02.jpg

http://www.avcollect2.co.uk/buccanee..._flowers04.jpg

http://www.avcollect2.co.uk/buccanee..._flowers05.jpg

I've found no references in the press/media to Alex Henshaw dying. Maybe it's not surprising in this ungrateful day & age, but are we sure about this rumour? Anyone got any links?

Telegraph obituary
 

They were a bit slow off the mark, but here's one:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.../28/db2801.xml

Sedbergh
 

Check today's Daily Telegraph's Obituaries.