Reference
HN2/JBA
Title
Papers of James Bernard Allen
Date free text
1907 -1934
Production date
From: 1907 To: 1934
Admin/biog history
Born 1897, son of Thomas Cash & Carrie Allen of Bristol.
1901 Census
1, Carnarvon Road, Bristol
Thomas C Allen, Head, Married, 37, Commercial Traveller – oil trade, born Bristol
Carrie Allen, Wife, 33, born Bristol
Hilda Allen, Dau, 7, born Bristol
James Allen, Son, 4, born Bristol
Winchester House School Bristol 1907
Married Nora Hall at Eastbourne, Sussex in Apr – Jun Q 1919 Vol.2b page235
‘Particulars of Service and Qualifications of Flight Lieutenant J B Allen’
Left school in August 1914 to join 6th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, education not completed.
Transferred to the ranks of the Royal Flying Corps in France in February 1916 as a rigger. My work in addition to ordinary rigging included complete machine overhauls and repairs.
Rose to the rank of Corporal and obtained a Commission in the RFC in April 1917
Posted to France and joined no.23 Squadron (Spads) in August 1917.
Returned to Home Establishment in May 1918 and was Flying Instructor until January 1919.
Posted to Leuchars and carried Deck Flying until the end of the year.
On being demobilised in 1919 I entered the Launceston Engineering Co Limited as a pupil and served in the shops until July 1920 when I returned to the RAF.
From 1920 to April 1922 was employed on the recruiting Staff , commanding Depots at Chatham, Liverpool and Bristol.
April 1922 posted to Gosport and recommenced flying.
Underwent a course in navigation at Calshot February to May 1923. This included maps, charts and projections, triangle of velocities, magnetism and compasses etc.
Took CFS Flying Instructors Course in December 1923 and was posted to RAF Cadet College Cranwell as Flying Instructor in March 1924.
Received promotion to present rank in January 1925 and was posted to command HQ Squadron of 250 men at Cranwell. On the transfer of this Wing to Halton in August last was given command of a Squadron of Apprentices, which was held until the termination of Commission in July 1927.
The diary of Mary Russell, Duchess of Bedford, edited by John Gore [book 180 Russ] notes that her new pilot, Mr J B Allen, arrived at Woburn and stayed at Paris House on 6th Sept 1930. In 1931 he accompanied her to Spain and North Africa in the ‘Puss Moth’ aeroplane, and in 1933 to Turkey. Jerusalem, Jordan and Egypt.
His address at this time was Froxfield House, Eversholt.
Apr 11th 1933 We flew up to the Sierra Nevada to take photographs. As Flight-Lieut Allen handed the control over to me when we were close to the top, in order that he could take photos, he apparently has confidence in his pupil!’
Dec 6th 1933 Last evening terrible news was brought to me that my poor pilot had crashed at Lidlington in the Monospar which had been lent to us by the Company for competing in the Tour of Oases race at Cairo in the 19th. He was terribly injured and was taken to Bedford Hospital, where he died six hours later.
He had been to Liverpool to see the Pobjoy engine people, as they wished to have the engines to look over before we started on Saturday. Unfortunately he was kept late, and though there was no actual fog there was mist enough to have obscured the ground from the air except when flying low. He was seen to fly over Lidlington , and undoubtedly knew that it was our ridge of hills, then he turned north again and flew low to the actual locality. He must have been suddenly confronted by the terrible row of high pylons and cables, to turn and crash on bad ridge and furrow on Thrupps End Farm, only some three miles (by air) from home. I should have been with him but for an appointment in Bedford.
He is a terrible loss, as we have had such lovely flights together, and all his work for me has been all that could be wished for, and I have lost not only a skilled pilot but a loyal and trusted friend.
December 9th He was buried at Woburn today. I have had a great many letters of sympathy, not only from friends, but from those with whom he had business relations, who have been equally impressed by his wonderful personality. And so ends this chapter of my flying times, which I think we both enjoyed equally. For him it has been the best of deaths for an airman to die and the suffering for the tragedy was only for those who knew him.
December 15th Since writing the above I have been told that he was heard approaching the park by several people and must therefore have come direct here. Todd had been ordered to light a petrol flare in the event of his coming back late, and when he heard him ran to light it, but before he could do so he had turned due east to Lidlington, where he was seen to turn and crash very shortly. Why did he turn off thus from our Park and dive so low as to be near the cables at Lidlington? The enquiry revealed nothing wrong with the engine. He was too good a navigator to have lost his way. He has had a very sad life for many years and I think enjoyed his flying times with me, but for him I try to feel it is best that he is now at rest. I have now flown 1, 189 hours, most of which have been with him.
Scope and Content
Papers and correspondence relating to personal life, employment ad a pilot and elsewhere, and financial affairs. Snapshot photographs.
Archival history
Part of the collection of Hobourn Solicitors, Woburn.
Level of description
series
Persons/institution keyword