1889-1918 |
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Monoplan Esnault-Pelterie (REP) piloté par GORDON BELL. Collection of Bill Robertson, 8-29-05 |
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via email from Bill Robertson, 8-27-05 I collect anything to do with Turkish Aviation. Gordon Bell featured as something of a hero in Turkey. He flew his Rep monoplane at the Coronation of Sultan Mehmed Reshad V on 27 April 27 1910 and reputedly landed it within the walls of the Topkapi palace. Later in 1912 during the Italo-Turkish war in Libya, he was involved in training pilots for the fledgling Turkish Airforce as a representative of the REP organisation. Basically that is all I know about him, and I was hoping for more. I have two postcards showing his famous red REP "Ordu". If you want I can send you scans. Bill Robertson |
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Collection of Bill Robertson, 8-29-05 |
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via email from Bill Robertson, 10-1-05 "BELL, Charles Gordon: Aviator, started in motor business, Serving apprenticeship at Napier motor works. In 1911 was engaged by REP, and at the time was the only English representative to be employed by a French firm; qualified for brevet No. 100 at Brooklands, on Hanriot monoplane, July 4, 1911; in April 1912 carried out the first flight over Constantinople and started the Turkish Air Corps; served for three years in Royal Flying Corps; since invalided out; b. London, May 31st 1889; educated at Tonbridge School." The Flying Book, the Aviation World Who's Who, Industrial Directory, by W.L.Wade 1918 |
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via email from Rusty Mott, 12-8-11 I think I can add something interesting to your knowledge about Major Charles Gordon-Bell. Gordon-Bell was one of two pilots to fly souvenir copies of the Paris newspaper, Le Matin, Wednesday 28 May, 1913, the first to be flown across the channel, from Paris to England, to deliver to His Majesty the King, George V, at Windsor Castle. Gordon-Bell's monoplane developed engine trouble and he never reached Windsor. Those two copies were printed on silk. That evening he learned that the other copy, the only other one printed on silk, had been delivered successfully. Thus, he kept his for a little while before giving it to W. Naylor Spence. Spence was, according to "Flight", February 3, 1912, clerk of the Manchester Aero Club, and was elected to membership in the Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom, June 18, 1915. I own the Gordon-Bell copy printed on 8 leaves on silk, accompanied by a letter from 7 November 1920 by W. Naylor Spence to Major G. F. Sexton, to whom he was giving the newspaper, in which Spence gives the history of the flight, mentioning Gordon-Bell. I would hazard the guess that we have owned it somewhere between 40 and 50 years, and just today, thanks to Google, I noticed your request for information about Gordon-Bell. Gordon-Bell is also mentioned pp. 191-194 in Charles Cyril Turner's"The Old Flying Days" (1927; reprinted 1972). You can Google that volume. Sincerely, Rusty Mott Howard S. Mott, Inc. Rare Books Sheffield, MA |
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18. - Gordon Bell au départ sur son monoplan "Rep" Collection of Jean-Pierre Lauwers |
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from Aircraft Deaths - 1910 to August 1914 by Dave Lam Luckily, Gordon was not killed, but his passenger, J.R.B. Kennedy, did not survive the crash. |
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"Also this year... Gordon Bell becomes the first professional test pilot for the Short Brothers at Eastchurch." You can access the page by clicking on the title above. |
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Part I B y Group Captain Keith Isaacs, AFC "The Royal Naval Air Service was formed on July 1, 1914, and on the 28th Longmore, flying a three-bay Short Folder seaplane, made the first successful air-torpedo drop by a naval ;pilot in Great Britain. Apparently test pilot Gordon Bell had made the very first drop the previous evening..." You can access the page by clicking on the title above. |
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"Brooklands Aero Club Flying Meeting Programme, Saturday, May 11th, 1912, orig. printed programme, on a single folded sheet of card, glazed yellow outer cover, with printed list of pilots and machines entered for a cross-country handicap To Chertsey and Back, and a relay race, round the course, Two Laps Each, some soiling and creases, and other marks, outer corners clipped, approx. 12.5 x 9 cms. A scarce early Brooklands Aviation programme, with participants incl. Gordon Bell, Pashley, Sopwith, Sabelli, Parke, Raynham and others. " You can access the page by clicking on the title above. |
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Shorts Aircraft since 1900 by C. H. Barnes revised by Derek N. James Product Details Hard Cover: 576 pgs., 430 photos, 80 line drawings. 5½"x 8¾" List Price: $45.00 Publisher: Putnam Aeronautical Books ISBN: 0870216627 |
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Description: I have read with interest your "Early Aviators" entry about Gordon Bell and can refer you to a useful source of information, i.e. "Shorts Aircraft since 1900" by C.H. Barnes, revised by Derek N. James, published by Putnam. Bell is mentioned numerous times in the early years, since he was Shorts' first staff test pilot in 1912 (freelance), staying there until August 1914. The book includes a good close-up photograph of Bell in 1914, taken before he left to become "an official A.I.D. test pilot". It also notes that he was "killed in France in July 1918 in this capacity." The book may also clarify the issue of the first airborne torpedo drop, which was probably performed by Longmore rather than Bell. I hope that this information is useful.. T. Runciman |
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from Shorts Aircraft since 1900 Editor's Note: If you have any information on this pioneer aviator please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper |
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