Monty Burton

Monty Burton
Birth name Roland Louis Ernest Burton
Nickname(s) Monty
Born (1918-05-18)18 May 1918
Forest Gate London
Died 29 April 1999(1999-04-29) (aged 80)
France
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Air Force
Years of service 28.09.1937 1958
Rank Squadron Leader
Service number 50530
Awards Air Force Cross

Roland Louis Ernest Burton AFC and Bar (known as Monty Burton) (18 May 1918 – 28 April 1999) was a British pilot who won the 1953 London to Christchurch air race.

London to Christchurch air race

Flight Lieutenant Burton became the first man[1] to fly from London to New Zealand in under 24 hours, when with his navigator Flight Lieutenant Don Gannon he won the 1953 London to Christchurch air race in a Canberra PR3 in 1953, winning the Britannia Trophy, now in the RAF Museum, Hendon.[2][3]

Family life

Burton married Joan Evans (1942) and they had two daughters and a son. One of his daughters Jocelyn Burton became a successful silver and goldsmith. His son Michael Burton (1949 - 2011)was also a talented silversmith. Burton retired to France where he died on 29 April 1999.

References

  1. "Straight & Level 11.12.1953". Flight Global. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  2. "Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation". R A F Records. Archived from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  3. "British Military Aviation in 1953". Royal Air Force Museum. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
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