Walter G. R. Hinchliffe
| Walter George Raymond Hinchliffe | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Hinch, known as Raymond to his family |
| Born |
10 June 1894 Liverpool, England |
| Died | 13 March 1928 (aged 33) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1918 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit |
Royal Artillery No. 10 Squadron RNAS/No. 210 Squadron RAF |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Other work | Disappeared attempting east-west crossing of Atlantic Ocean |
Captain Walter George Raymond Hinchliffe DFC (10 June 1894 – 13 March 1928), also known as Hinch (the surname is often incorrectly given as Hinchcliffe) was a distinguished Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force flying ace in World War I who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. A pioneering military and civilian flying career was cut short when he attempted a treacherous flight across the Atlantic Ocean with Elsie Mackay in a single engined Stinson Detroiter.
Hinchliffe was born in Liverpool in 1894 to Richard George Hinchliffe (1868 - circa 1942) and Florence Williams. His younger sister Gladys was born in 1897 in Liverpool. He was educated at Liverpool College, where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps, then attended medical school, training as a dentist. He spoke four languages (including German), was an avid reader, a skilled artist, an accomplished sportsman and a skilled mechanic. He met his Dutch wife Emilie Gallizien when he was Chief Pilot of the Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) and she was assistant to the company's General Manager.
His brother in law F. C. Lay was the first Pupil to become head master at the City of Oxford High School for Boys.
Hinchliffe was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the North Lancashire Brigade Company, West Lancashire Divisional Transport and Supply Column (Territorial Army) of the British Army Service Corps on 20 March 1912, and promoted Lieutenant on 17 September 1914. He is then believed to have served in the Royal Artillery from 1914–16 before joining the Royal Naval Air Service where he underwent training at Redcar,Cranwell and Frieston.
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