Saturday, February 20, 2010

Ernest Hugh Statham 1910-1957

Hugh Statham (right) at Old Mixon


H. E. Statham learned to fly at the Herts and Essex Aero Club, becoming an instructor there in 1939. He joined Bristols in 1940,as a pilot at Yatesbury W.T. School, transferring to the test staff at the Weston-super-Mare factory in 1943. He handled production testing of Beauforts and Beaufighters and moved to Filton in 1945. He had over 5,000 hr, including a considerable number on the Britannia.

He was killed along with 15 others when the Ministry of Supply's Bristol Britannia 300 prototype,G-ANCA crashed at Downend,Bristol on on November 6th 1957.