Sidney Webster

Sidney Webster
Birth name Sidney Norman Webster
Nickname(s) Webbie
Born (1900-03-19)19 March 1900
Walsall, England
Died 5 April 1984(1984-04-05) (aged 84)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Air Force
Years of service 1918-1950
Rank Air Vice-Marshal
Unit High Speed Flight RAF
Commands held RAF Hong Kong
Battles/wars Second World War
Awards Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Air Force Cross and Bar

Air Vice-Marshal Sidney Norman Webster CBE AFC* (1900–1984) was an English aviator, a senior officer in the Royal Air Force who flew the winning aircraft in the 1927 Schneider Trophy seaplane race.[1]

Early life

Sidney Normal Webster was born in Walsall on 9 March 1900 and joined the Royal Air Force in September 1918 and trained as a pilot.[2] He was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1921. In 1927 he was selected as part of the British team to contest the 1929 Schneider Trophy.[1]

Schneider Trophy

After training Webster and the British team moved to Venice, Italy to prepare for the race against Italy, and the United States. The race was held on 26 September 1927 and was won by Webster flying his Supermarine S.5 single-engined seaplane at an average speed of 281.66 mph (453 km/h).[1] After winning the trophy Webster was awarded a bar to his Air Force Cross.[3]

Webster left the High Speed Flight and after a tour as a flight commander in 1933 he was seconded to the Egyptian Government until 1939.[2]

Second world war

Webster used his experience of high speed flight as he acted as a liaison officer between the Air Ministry and various aircraft manufacturers in the United Kingdom. In 1944 he moved to the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment as commanding officer.[1]

Post war

After the war Webster had two tours of duty with Coastal Command in between he was Air Officer Commanding RAF Hong Kong, he retired in 1950.[2]

Honours and awards

The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of a Bar to the Air Force Cross held by Flight Lieutenant Sidney Norman Webster, AFC, in recognition of his achievement winning the recent "Schneider Cup" Air Race.

— London Gazette[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Air Vice-Marshal S.N. Webster". Obituaries. The Times (61802). London. 10 April 1984. col G, p. 16.
  2. 1 2 3 Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Vice Marshal S N Webster (08182) Archived 8 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. 1 2 "No. 33319". The London Gazette. 11 October 1927. p. 6402.
  4. ↑ "No. 32563". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1921. p. 10719.
  5. ↑ "No. 37407". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1946. p. 32.
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