Oscar Colin Morison (1884–1966) was an early English aviator who served in the First World War in the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service.
Oscar Colin Morison | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 November 1884 |
| Died | 17 May 1966 (aged 81) |
Life
editMorison was born at Dulwich, London on 22 November 1884.
Aviator
editMorison gained his Royal Aero Club aviators certificate (No. 46) on 31 December 1910 at Brooklands Aerodrome using a Bleriot monoplane.[1] He flew exhibition flights in the early days of aviation in England. In 1911 he entered the Daily Mail Circuit of Britain Air Race but failed to start. On 7 March 1911 he became the first aviator to fly into Shoreham Aerodrome in a Bleriot monoplane.[2] In May 1911 he was in a well publicized air-race with Graham Gilmour from Shoreham Aerodrome to the eastern boundary of Brighton at Blackrock, Morison taking the straight course passed the winning post one minute before Gilmour.[3]
He married Margaret Cleaver at Brighton in 1912.[4]
Military service
editWith the outbreak of the First World War, Morison was commissioned in the Royal Flying Corps as a Second Lieutenant, in May 1916 he transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.[5] Morison was promoted Temporary Major in the Royal Air Force when it was formed in 1918.
Morison rejoined the RAF in 1940 with a temporary commission for the duration of hostilities.[6]
Later life
editMorison died on 17 May 1966 in Bournemouth, being styled as a "Gentleman".[7]
References
edit- ^ Royal Aero Club Certificate No. 46 record card.
- ^ "A Brief Year by Year History of Shoreham Airport". Brighton Shoreham Airport. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
- ^ "Racing in Biplanes". Dundee Courier. 15 May 1911.
- ^ General Register Office index of marriages registered in October, November and December 1912, - Name: Oscar C Morison * Margaret V Cleaver, District: Brighton, Sussex, Volume: 2B Page: 499.
- ^ "No. 29619". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 June 1916. p. 5808.
- ^ "No. 34830". The London Gazette. 26 April 1940. p. 2479.
- ^ "No. 44014". The London Gazette. 7 June 1966. p. 6658.