T. Neville Stack
Encyclopedia
Captain Thomas Neville Stack AFC
(died 1949) was a 1920s test pilot, air racer and aviation pioneer. He served in both the First and Second World War and in all three services.
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in another Moth, they reached Karachi on the 8 January 1927. In June 1927 Stack and Leete were each awarded the Air Force Cross
, Air Ministry, 3 June, 1927, The King had been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Air Force Cross to Mr. Thomas Neville Stack (Flying Officer, Reserve of Air Force Officers), in recognition of the distinguished service rendered to aviation by his recent flight in a light aeroplane from London to Delhi.
, Stack together with Sidney Lewis Turner had a specially modified long-range version of the Airspeed Envoy
built. It was named the Airspeed Viceroy
.
The Airspeed Viceroy started the race from RAF Mildenhall, England, but after several reliability problems including with the mainwheel brakes, it was withdrawn from the race at Athens. The pilots concluded that it would be unsafe to proceed and they would probably be unable to finish the race.
born in 1919 became an Air Chief-Marshal in the Royal Air Force. Stack was a manager at Orient Airways when he died near Karachi, India on 22 February 1949. Newspaper reports that he was killed when he was run over by a lorry. The Police allege he threw himself under the vehicle. Stack had recently been interned by the Pakistan authorities (with regard a sale of a Dakota to India) but was allowed a daily visit to see his priest at Mauripore Airport and he is alleged to have thrown himself under the lorry while walking to the house of the priest.
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
(died 1949) was a 1920s test pilot, air racer and aviation pioneer. He served in both the First and Second World War and in all three services.
First World War
Thomas Neville Stack left the Army to join the Royal Flying Corps in 1917, at the end of the war he became a flying instructor. In 1921 he re-joined the Royal Air Force and served in Iraq leaving in 1925 to become chief flying instructor with the Lancashire Aero ClubLancashire Aero Club
The Lancashire Aero Club is the oldest established Flying Club in the United Kingdom.- Early history :* Late 1922: The club was formed by John F. Leeming and a group of friends who had started to build a glider in Leeming's garage at his home in Bowdon near Altrincham Cheshire...
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England to India
On the 15 November 1926 Stack left England in at attempt to reach India in a De Havilland DH.60, he was accompanied by Bernard LeeteBernard Leete
Bernard More Troughton Shute Leete OBE AFC was a an English aviator in the 1930s. He was an aviation pioneer and was awarded Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his achievements.-England to India:...
in another Moth, they reached Karachi on the 8 January 1927. In June 1927 Stack and Leete were each awarded the Air Force Cross
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
, Air Ministry, 3 June, 1927, The King had been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Air Force Cross to Mr. Thomas Neville Stack (Flying Officer, Reserve of Air Force Officers), in recognition of the distinguished service rendered to aviation by his recent flight in a light aeroplane from London to Delhi.
England to Australia
In 1934, to enable him to compete in the England-Australia MacRobertson Air RaceMacRobertson Air Race
The MacRobertson Trophy Air Race took place October, 1934 as part of the Melbourne Centenary celebrations. The idea of the race was devised by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, and a prize fund of $75,000 was put up by Sir Macpherson Robertson, a wealthy Australian confectionery manufacturer, on the...
, Stack together with Sidney Lewis Turner had a specially modified long-range version of the Airspeed Envoy
Airspeed Envoy
The Airspeed AS.6 Envoy was a British light, twin-engined transport aircraft designed and built by Airspeed Ltd. in the 1930s at Portsmouth Aerodrome, Hampshire.-Development and design:...
built. It was named the Airspeed Viceroy
Airspeed Viceroy
|-See also:-References:* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . Orbis Publishing.* Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam, 1974. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.-External links:* * *...
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The Airspeed Viceroy started the race from RAF Mildenhall, England, but after several reliability problems including with the mainwheel brakes, it was withdrawn from the race at Athens. The pilots concluded that it would be unsafe to proceed and they would probably be unable to finish the race.
Second World War
In the 1940s he was Chief Test Pilot at Austin Motors where he flew new aircraft straight from the production lines. He later joined the Fleet Air Arm and commanded 742 Naval Air Squadron in Southern India.Later life
His son Neville StackNeville Stack
Air Chief Marshal Sir Neville Stack KCB CVO AFC was a senior Royal Air Force commander.-Early years:Stack was born on 19 October 1919 the son of aviation pioneer T.N. Stack. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1935 as a flight cadet at RAF College Cranwell. He gained a permanent commission on 29...
born in 1919 became an Air Chief-Marshal in the Royal Air Force. Stack was a manager at Orient Airways when he died near Karachi, India on 22 February 1949. Newspaper reports that he was killed when he was run over by a lorry. The Police allege he threw himself under the vehicle. Stack had recently been interned by the Pakistan authorities (with regard a sale of a Dakota to India) but was allowed a daily visit to see his priest at Mauripore Airport and he is alleged to have thrown himself under the lorry while walking to the house of the priest.
See also
- MacRobertson Air RaceMacRobertson Air RaceThe MacRobertson Trophy Air Race took place October, 1934 as part of the Melbourne Centenary celebrations. The idea of the race was devised by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, and a prize fund of $75,000 was put up by Sir Macpherson Robertson, a wealthy Australian confectionery manufacturer, on the...