Robert Loraine: Soldier, Actor, Airman
London: Collins Publishers, 1938. Presumed First Edition. Hardcover. Contains 17 black and white full-page illustrations, and 1 full-page map showing Loraine's overseas flights. Also contains footnotes, index of names, and index of places and events. Dust jacket is price clipped and somewhat worn, and small chips missing to dust jacket edges. Name in ink on fep. Robert Bilcliffe Loraine MC DSO (14 January 1876 – 23 December 1935) was a successful London and Broadway British stage actor, actor-manager and soldier who later enjoyed a side career as a pioneer aviator. Robert made his first stage appearance in the English provinces in 1889. In 1909 Loraine took up aviation learning first to fly at the Bleriot school at Pau, France. He then switched to the easier to fly Farman biplane, on which he achieved great fame. In September 1910 he made what is credited as being the first aeroplane flight from England to Ireland. He piloted a Bristol Boxkites in the British Army manouevres on Salisbury Plain, during which he sent the first radio signals to be sent from an aeroplane in Britain. Loraine served as a volunteer in the Boer War between 1899 and 1901. During the First World War he flew with the Royal Flying Corps. Formerly a lieutenant in the Special Reserve serving as a flying officer RFC, he was appointed to be a flight commander with the rank of captain on 15 September 1915. He was awarded the MC for his "conspicuous gallantry and skill" in shooting down an Albatross biplane on 26 October 1915. On 24 April 1916 he was promoted to command a squadron, with the rank of major, and on 13 February 1917 he was appointed a wing commander, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel; he was awarded the DSO the same year. He commanded 40 Squadron. On 11 December 1918 he relinquished his commission in the Royal Air Force due to ill-health brought on by his wounds, and was granted the honorary rank of major. Condition: good / Fair.
Keywords: Robert Loraine, Soldier, Actor, Airman, Royal Flying Corps, Boer War, World War I, 40 Squadron, George Bernard Shaw, Edgar Wallace
[Book #78898]
Price: $100.00