Augustus Orlebar

Infobox Person
name = Air Vice Marshal Augustus Henry Orlebar CBE, AFC


image_size =
caption =
birth_name = Augustus Henry Orlebar
birth_date = 17th February 1897
birth_place = Hinwick House, Podington, Beds.
death_date = death date and age|1943|08|4|1897|2|17|df=yes
death_place =
death_cause =
resting_place = St Mary's church, Podington
resting_place_coordinates =
residence =
nationality = British
other_names =
known_for = Air racing and military aviation
education = Rugby school
employer =
occupation = RAF officer
title =
salary =
networth =
height =
weight =
term =
predecessor =
successor =
party =
boards =
religion =
spouse = Victoria Orlebar
partner =
children =
parents =
relatives =


website =
footnotes = cite web
title=Podington church memorial
url=http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Bedfordshire/PodingtonRollofHonour.html
publisher= [http://www.roll-of-honour.com Roll of Honour] ]

Augustus Henry Orlebar (born 1897) was a British Royal Air Force officer. He was the son of Augustus Scobell Orlebar and Hester Mary Orlebar, of Podington. The Orlebars were an old family, having built Hinwick House almost 200 years earlier, after holding the manor since the mid-17th century. Rugby school was a natural education for a boy of his background.

The Great War

Enlisted in 1/5th Territorial Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, January 1915. Commissioned as a 2nd Lt, he served at Gallipoli and wounded in action by a sniper's bullet. Invalided to UK and transferred to Royal Flying Corps (RFC) on recovery.

Trained as a pilot in 1916, then served over the Western Front to the end of the war. On 13th March 1918, shot down and severely wounded Ltn. Lothar von Richthofen (brother of Manfred von Richthofen), near Cambrai. Wounded in turn himself by Albatros scouts over Ham, 23rd March 1918. Before his return to combat, he also served as an instructor in Essex.

He was credited with two enemy aircraft destroyed whilst serving with No 19 and a further four as a flight commander in No 73 Squadron, before being wounded. He gained his final victory with 43 on 29 September bringing his total to seven.

Inter-war service

Test pilot at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE), Martlesham Heath, 1919-25.

Awarded Air Force Cross 1921 and bar 1929.

Air racing

Officer Commanding and pilot with the High Speed Flight, the RAF's team for the Schneider Trophy seaplane races of 1927-1931. Britain, having won the 1927 race, became the subsequent host for the contests, which were based at RAF Calshot, on the eastern entrance to Southampton Water.

In 1929 he set a air speed record of 357.7 mph in Supermarine S.6 "N247". cite web
title=Photographs of Supermarine S.6 "N247" at the 1929 Schneider Trophy
url=http://www.hydroretro.net/coupeen/pilotes/orlebar.html]

The final contest was held in 1931, for a 3rd win gave the title to Britain in perpetuity. His report on the contest describes Flt Lt Stainforth's achievement of a new speed record at over 400 mph. cite web
title=Schneider Trophy - Report on the 1931 Race
url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/schneider6.html
auhor=Sqn Ldr A Orlebar
publisher=RAF]

World War II

As Group Captain, was OC RAF Northolt, 1939.

Promoted to Air Commodore and served at Fighter Command HQ during World War II.

ervice career

Decorations

AFC - 2 Jan 1922, bar - 3 Jun 1930, MiD - 24 Sep 1941.

Ranks held

RAF

References