Monty Burton | |
---|---|
Birth name | Roland Louis Ernest Burton |
Nickname(s) | Monty |
Born | (1918-05-18)18 May 1918 Forest Gate London |
Died | 29 April 1999(1999-04-29) (aged 80) France |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 28.09.1937 –1958 |
Rank | Squadron Leader |
Service number | 50530 |
Awards | Air Force Cross |
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.
London to Christchurch air race
Flight Lieutenant Burton became the first man 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.
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
- "Straight & Level 11.12.1953". Flight Global. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
- "Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation". R A F Records. Archived from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
- "British Military Aviation in 1953". Royal Air Force Museum. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
External links
- British Pathe, 12.000 Mile Air Race 1953
- British Pathe, London Christchurch Air Race 1953, prizes awarded
- Press notes