Monty Burton

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.

Monty Burton
Birth nameRoland Louis Ernest Burton
Nickname(s)Monty
Born(1918-05-18)18 May 1918
Forest Gate London
Died29 April 1999(1999-04-29) (aged 80)
France
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service28.09.1937 1958
RankSquadron Leader
Service number50530
AwardsAir Force Cross

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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