Vincent Crane Richmond
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Crane Richmond OBE
B.Sc., A.R.C. F.R.A.S (1893–1930) was an English
engineer and airship designer. He served first with the Royal Naval Air Service
then the Royal Air Force
. He was notable as designer of the Royal Airship Works R101
airship in which he died on 5 October 1930 when it crashed over France on its maiden voyage.
, London
the son of Joshua and Florence Mary Richmond (née Crane). His father was a mechanical engineer and model maker. Richmond was educated at the Royal College of Science
. Richmond lived much of his early life in East london later residing in Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex, London. He became an engineer for Messrs. S. Pearson & Sons
working on physical and structual problems in connection with dock construction.
In 1915 he joined the Royal Naval Air Service and was engaged until the end of the War principally on the construction of non-rigid airships were he worked on developing envelopes for non-rigid airships for which he earned the nickname "Dope", inventing a technique for doping linen
before stretching it over the airframe.
In 1920 he went to Germany with the Military Inter-Allied Commission of Control
and during part of the time was in charge of the Naval Sub-Commission for the surrender of airships and seaplanes. In 1921 he joined the Airship Research Department of the Air Ministry
and until 1923 was engaged on research into problems connected with rigid airship construction. From 1923 to 1924, during the cessation of airship activity in this country, he was in charge of the Material and Research Branch under the Director of Research, Air Ministry and since 1923 had been Lecturer in Airship Design and construction at the Imperial College of Science. He joined the Royal Airship Works in 1924 as Officer in Charge of Design and Research, during which time the R.101 was designed and constructed. Richmond was a contemporary of Nevile Norway Shute who worked on the design for the rival Vickers R100
design.
After a number of trial flights the R101 set out on its maiden voyage from England to India. The airship was wrecked near Beauvais
, France
early on 5 October 1930 having struck the ground and caught fire. Richmond was one of the forty-eight people killed in the accident. National feeling surrounding the disaster was huge; the funeral procession through London was watched by thousands. The bodies were then taken by special train to Bedford to be laid to rest in a communal grave in Cardington cemetery. Richmond's diaries, kept during the trials of the R101, were substantially quoted in the report of the inquiry into the accident and noted a number of concerns regarding the condition of the gasbags.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
B.Sc., A.R.C. F.R.A.S (1893–1930) was an English
engineer and airship designer. He served first with the Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
then the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. He was notable as designer of the Royal Airship Works R101
R101
R101 was one of a pair of British rigid airship completed in 1929 as part of a British government programme to develop civil airships capable of service on long-distance routes within the British Empire. It was designed and built by an Air Ministry-appointed team and was effectively in competition...
airship in which he died on 5 October 1930 when it crashed over France on its maiden voyage.
Life
Richmond was born 21 January 1893 at DalstonDalston
Dalston is a district of north-east London, England, located in the London Borough of Hackney. It is situated northeast of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
the son of Joshua and Florence Mary Richmond (née Crane). His father was a mechanical engineer and model maker. Richmond was educated at the Royal College of Science
Royal College of Science
The Royal College of Science was a higher education institution located in South Kensington; it was a constituent college of Imperial College London from 1907 until it was wholly absorbed by Imperial in 2002. Alumni include H. G. Wells and Brian May and are distinguishable by the letters ARCS ...
. Richmond lived much of his early life in East london later residing in Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex, London. He became an engineer for Messrs. S. Pearson & Sons
Pearson PLC
Pearson plc is a global media and education company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is both the largest education company and the largest book publisher in the world, with consumer imprints including Penguin, Dorling Kindersley and Ladybird...
working on physical and structual problems in connection with dock construction.
In 1915 he joined the Royal Naval Air Service and was engaged until the end of the War principally on the construction of non-rigid airships were he worked on developing envelopes for non-rigid airships for which he earned the nickname "Dope", inventing a technique for doping linen
Aircraft dope
thumb|right|[[United Kingdom military aircraft serials|2699]] a [[World War I]] [[Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2]] finished in a clear dopeAircraft dope is a plasticised lacquer that is applied to fabric-covered aircraft...
before stretching it over the airframe.
In 1920 he went to Germany with the Military Inter-Allied Commission of Control
Military Inter-Allied Commission of Control
The term Military Inter-Allied Commission of Control was used in a series of peace treaties concluded after the First World War between different countries...
and during part of the time was in charge of the Naval Sub-Commission for the surrender of airships and seaplanes. In 1921 he joined the Airship Research Department of the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
and until 1923 was engaged on research into problems connected with rigid airship construction. From 1923 to 1924, during the cessation of airship activity in this country, he was in charge of the Material and Research Branch under the Director of Research, Air Ministry and since 1923 had been Lecturer in Airship Design and construction at the Imperial College of Science. He joined the Royal Airship Works in 1924 as Officer in Charge of Design and Research, during which time the R.101 was designed and constructed. Richmond was a contemporary of Nevile Norway Shute who worked on the design for the rival Vickers R100
R100
HM Airship R100 was a privately designed and built rigid airship made as part of a two-ship competition to develop new techniques for a projected larger commercial airship for use on British empire routes...
design.
Beauvais
Beauvais is a city approximately by highway north of central Paris, in the northern French region of Picardie. It currently has a population of over 60,000 inhabitants.- History :...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
early on 5 October 1930 having struck the ground and caught fire. Richmond was one of the forty-eight people killed in the accident. National feeling surrounding the disaster was huge; the funeral procession through London was watched by thousands. The bodies were then taken by special train to Bedford to be laid to rest in a communal grave in Cardington cemetery. Richmond's diaries, kept during the trials of the R101, were substantially quoted in the report of the inquiry into the accident and noted a number of concerns regarding the condition of the gasbags.
Inventions and published papers
Richmond,along with colleagues was responsible for a number of patents relating to the manufacturing of airships:- 1921 - Gas stopping linings and fixings
- 1923 - construction of airship transverse framework
- 1924 - The construction of airships
- 1926 - Gasbag construction
- "Some Modern Developments in Rigid Airship Construction"