Richard Waghorn
| Richard Waghorn | |
|---|---|
British 1929 Schneider Trophy Team (Waghorn first from the left)
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| Birth name | Henry Richard Danvers Waghorn |
| Nickname(s) | "Dick" |
| Born |
6 September 1904 Brompton, London, England |
| Died | 7 May 1931 (aged 26) Farnborough, Hampshire, England |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Unit | Royal Aircraft Establishment |
| Awards | Air Force Cross |
Flight Lieutenant Richard Dick Waghorn AFC (1904–1931) was an English aviator, a pilot with the Royal Air Force who flew the winning aircraft in the 1929 Schneider Trophy seaplane race.
Henry Richard Danvers Waghorn was born on 6 September 1904 at Brompton in London the son of a civil engineer.
In 1924 Waghorn became a cadet at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell. When he passed out in August that year he was awarded the Sword of Honour as the best all-round cadet. He was posted to No. 17 Squadron flying the Sopwith Snipe fighter. After a few years he was sent on a flying instructor's course at the Central Flying School, after the course he stayed with the CFS as a qualified flying instructor. In February 1929 he was posted to the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment at Felixstowe to train as part of the British team to contest the 1929 Schneider Trophy.
After training the British team moved to Calshot in April 1929 to prepare for the race against France, Italy, and the United States. The race was held on 6 September 1929 and was won by Waghorn flying his Supermarine S.6, he completed the course in 39 min 42 second at an average speed of 328.63 mph (529 km/h). Waghorn was also to claim world record speeds for seaplanes, although team mate Richard Atcherley later registered higher speeds when he completed his laps of the circuit. But Waghorn had the highest average speed and the United Kingdom retained the trophy for the second time, following the team win in 1927. After winning the trophy Waghorn was awarded the Air Force Cross and he continued to fly, mainly concerned with experimental and high-speed flying.
He had married Dollie Watson on 15 June 1929 and had a son, called John Waghorn. He had an interest in skiing and was second in a 3¾ miles race in the 1930 British Ski Championship and was a member of the Great Britain team.
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