1931 - 1940 page 4

March 6 1935:

Daughter Shirley Anne is born to Nevil and Frances Shute. Artist friend Flora Twort is made her Godmother.

1935:

Travelling in a train with Airspeed's publicist Concord Morton, Shute discusses a cutting from The Times about the crash of the new, all metal, Boeing 247 airliner. The aircraft's tail had fallen off. In 1948 Shute publishes No Highway in which tailplane metal fatigue causes the crash of a new airliner.

Spring 1935:

Shute spends 3 weeks in Athens trying unsuccessfully to sell aeroplanes. This experience becomes inspiration for Ruined City.

In 1936 Shute visits Ealing Studios, near his birthplace, to see his favourite actor, Clive Brook (1887-1974), film Lonely Road. Also released as Scotland Yard Commands it was produced by Basil Dean and directed by James Flood. It starred Clive Brook and Victoria Hopper. Shute had written the book with Clive Brook in mind and had, on publication, sent him a copy. ( OU )

1936:

The Courier becomes the first aeroplane ever to receive television signals in flight when used for TV transmission testing.

1936:

Shute begins writing Ruined City.

March 1936:

Airspeed now employs 600 people.

May 1936:

Airspeed designs the Queen Wasp target plane.

In May 1936 Airspeed gets an order for the prototype Queen Wasp Radio Controlled Target Plane. It cruises at 151mph (243 kph) with a top speed of 173mph (277kph) and carries one pilot for ferrying. ( DHM )

July 17 1936

Spanish Civil War starts. All the unsold Airspeed aeroplanes are quickly sold. The war finally ends on April 01 1939.

1936

Joseph Smith (27) and Arthur Gargett (22), employees of Airspeed, steal G-ACVA, a new Courier worth 3,400 Pounds, to make their fortune in the Spanish Civil War. They crash on take-off. Gargett dies and Smith receives 4 months in prison. Young Airspeed employee Henry Cutting innocently assists them and in 2003 still remembers the crash vividly. Shute gave evidence at the trial.

The Shute family live at 14 Helena Rd Southsea from 1936 to late 1939. (Photo: AB 2002)

The slightly incorrect plaque at 14 Helena Rd Southsea. It reads "Portsmouth City Council. Nevil Shute Norway 1899 - 1960 Author, Aircraft Designer & Founder of Airspeed Ltd Lived here between 1936 - 1940". The family moved out in late 1939 to avoid stray bombs aimed at Portsmouth. (Photo: DDT 2002)

The enlarged Airspeed factory at Portsmouth Aerodrome is seen here in September 1936. Note the beginnings of further buildings on the other side of the road. (Photo: FM / DHM / DH )

Early April 1933: Henry Cutting, an office boy at Airspeed, recalled in 2003 that a man working on Cobhams refuelling experiments was in a fight outside Mother Shiptons Pub. The other man in the fight died. Cobhams partner was allowed free before his trial but died when his plane, GABXN, crashed in Portsmouth Harbour on April 15 1933. In late 1945 Shute used the plot point of a fatal pub fight in The Chequer Board.

Between 1933 and 1938 In 2003 Henry Cutting recalled that in the Airspeed factory a fuel tank was mistakenly tested with petrol instead of paraffin resulting in a large explosion and fire. Airspeed worker Andie Drummond died and co-worker George Lister was injured. Shute appeared, coolly stepping through the burning sacking that was used as a saw-dust barrier, and quickly took charge of the scene.

October 04 1936: Airspeed 1934 Ltd files for a patent titled "Improvements in or relating to Indicating or Recording Instruments for use on Aircraft". It is for an instrument to measure air density to get the best possible performance out of an aircraft.

October 1936 The Air Ministry orders the first 136 Envoy Trainers. These are later known as Airspeed Oxfords.

This caricature of Shute is from the Airspeed Gazette, the company magazine. (PL / Copyright © BAE SYSTEMS PLC)

On January 27 1937 Shute entrusts his wife, Frances, to the flying skills of Airspeed's Test Pilot, Flt Lt Colman. Frances travels with him as far as Calcutta in Envoy G-AERT which is en route to be sold in China. (Photo: FM / SR )

This is the Airspeed factory at Portsmouth. It is after 1936 as there are now buildings south of Airport Service Road. We are looking west on Airport Service Road with Bilton Way, in the immediate foreground, heading off to the right at the petrol pump or pillar box. ( AT )

March 1937

The King's Flight Envoy is ordered. Shute starts to lose interest in Airspeed.

In The Kings Flight colours of red, royal blue and silver, the 1937 Royal Airspeed Envoy G-AEXX cruises at 181mph (290kph) and has a top speed of 211mph. (338kph) The Envoy could carry one pilot and six passengers. (Photo: TA / DHM / DH )