We have written quite a bit about the collection of Connie Leathart over the last few years. Again, we are delving into her collection, but this time looking more at aviation rather than Connie herself.
Whilst reading a book on Lady Lucy Houston DBE by Miles Macnair, my interest was piqued. Lucy was a philanthropist and political activist, who developed an interest in aviation in the 1930s, when the British government withdrew support for the British entrants of the Schneider Trophy Race. My mind started to whirr, and I wondered if the indomitable Lucy had ever crossed paths with our own Connie Leathart. Lucy’s interest came at roughly the same time as Connie gained her pilot’s licence and began her career within that world.
The Schneider Race was founded in 1912 by Jacques Schneider, a balloonist and keen aviator, and the International Sporting Club of France. Schneider believed an international air race would speed up the development of aircraft engines and aeroplanes. In later years, it became a contest focussed on speed, but it remained important in advancing aeroplane design, and heavily influenced many Second World War aircraft designs. The races were tremendously popular in their day, sometimes attracting more than 200,000 spectators.
Rules of the race included that it must take place over open sea, and that the distance must be at least 150 nautical miles around a triangular course. The winning country would host the next event, and if a country ever won the race three times in a row, they would be crowned overall winners of the Trophy.
Connie’s collection contains some fabulous photograph albums which cover the first few decades of her life. After conducting a search on our catalogue, I found that there were references to the Schneider Trophy within the albums, mainly of the 1929 Schneider Race which took place at Calshot in Hampshire. As these photographs are within Connie’s albums, it is reasonable to assume that she was there at the event. The British Supermarine S.6 won the 1929 race, piloted by Flying Officer H.R. Waghorn. This would be the second consecutive British win, as they had achieved first place in the 1927 Race in Venice.
We also know that Connie must have been at the 1931 Schneider contest, as again there are photographs within her albums that show the event. The Air Ministry refused to grant funds to the Royal Aero Club to enter the contest, R.A.F. involvement was vetoed in the Race and in the policing of the racecourse on the Solent, and the aircraft used in the 1929 Race were forbidden from being flown again.
Lady Lucy gave a private donation of £100,000 to The Royal Aero Club to help finance the 1931 entry, the Supermarine. The British team ended up flying the course alone, as the German, French and Italian teams failed to have their aircraft ready in time to compete. The race, which took place on the 13 September, was therefore won by the British, and as this was the third time they had won the Race, they were overall winners of the Schneider Trophy.
Without Lady Lucy Houston’s donation, the Supermarine Spitfire may never have been designed, or at least not in time to take the stage in the Second World War. The Schneider Trophy seaplanes designed by R.J. Mitchell at Supermarine led to the development of the airframe which was the prototype for the Spitfire, not to mention the Merlin engine that was developed, and would power British fighter planes. Planes that Connie would fly in her role as a Flight Captain in the Air Transport Auxiliary.
Two extraordinary women, linked by a love of aviation and their country.