Hillman's Airways

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Hillman's Airways
Founded1931
Ceased operations1935
Destinations Paris le Bourget
Headquarters Romford
Key peopleEdward Henry Hillman

Hillman's Airways was a 1930s British airline which later became part of British Airways.

Contents

The company was formed in November 1931 as Hillman's Saloon Coaches and Airways Limited by Edward Henry Hillman, who was a coach operator in Essex. [1] His previous business had been sold to London Transport following a change in government rules on the expansion of bus routes. The airline's first service was a charter flight on 25 December 1931. [2] It started a scheduled service on 1 April 1932 between Romford and Clacton using a de Havilland Puss Moth and a de Havilland Fox Moth, with a fare of £1 return. It was operated every three hours due to the popularity. [1] A de Havilland Dragon was bought to operate an international service between Romford and Paris le Bourget.

From 1 December 1934 the airline was given a contract to fly air mail between London, Liverpool, Glasgow and Belfast, a service formerly operated by the Railway Air Services. Following the award of this contract Hillman changed the legal name from Hillman's Airways Limited to Edward Henry Hillman Limited and the airline extended its services to continental Europe, including Ostend and Brussels. On 1 June 1934 the airline moved its operating base to Stapleford Aerodrome. [2]

Just before Hillman died on 31 December 1934, aged 45, the company became a public company, but within a year it was merged with Spartan Air Lines and United Airways to form British Airways. [2] [3]

Accidents and incidents

Christening of a DH 86 by wife of Civil Aviation Minister at Stapleford Aerodrome, Abridge. From the Bennett Family Archive. DH86atStaplefordAerodrome.jpg
Christening of a DH 86 by wife of Civil Aviation Minister at Stapleford Aerodrome, Abridge. From the Bennett Family Archive.

Fleet

See also

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References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Bluffield 2009, pp. 115–116
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bluffield 2009, pp. 138–139
  3. "Allied British Airways". Airline History. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  4. "Channel Air Disaster Crash Into The Sea, Seven Dead, Pilot's Signal For Bearings". News. The Times. No. 46875. London. 4 October 1934. col A, p. 12.
  5. Poole 1999, p. 12.
  6. Bluffield 2009, pp. 152–153
  7. "Fall From An Air Liner". The Times. No. 46995. London. 22 February 1935. p. 14.
  8. Terry Carter, "Jane and Elizabeth Du Bois – an American tragedy in Essex," Loughton and District Historical Society Newsletter 189 (March/April 2011): 5–6.
  9. "A Strange Affsair: The deaths of two young Americans" (PDF). North Weald Airfield Museum.

Bibliography