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Walter H. Longton

Early Life
Walter Hunt Longton was born on September 10th 1892 at Whiston Hall Farm, Whiston, Lancashire, the eldest of five children of Walter Henry Longton and his wife Mary Anne (nee Hunt). His three younger brothers studied medicine at the University of Liverpool and became doctors, his sister married Thomas Roby, a brass founder and director of John Roby Ltd, Rainhill. Several generations of his father's family were farmers in Ditton, Cheshire and Widnes. His maternal grandfather, Joseph Hunt, was a surgeon but many relations had been watchmakers in Farnworth near Widnes. He attended Cowley School, St Helens leaving at 16 to begin a five year apprenticeship from January 13th 1908 in the Mechanical Engineering Department of British Insulated and Helsby Cables Ltd in Prescot. During this period he took up motorcycling and in 1912 was awarded a gold medal in the Liverpool Autocycle Club Open Reliability Trial across a challeging route from Wrexham to Bala and via Ruthin to Birkenhead. Soon after his apprenticeship was completed in 1913 he moved to Sparkbrook, Birmingham to work for Alldays and Onions at Small Heath. This provided an opportunity to continue racing motorcycles. In 1913 he took part in the Auto Cycle Union Six day trial in the Lake District on behalf of Alldays, again winning a gold medal, and in 1913 and 1914 he entered the Isle of Man TT on Alldays' behalf.

First World War
In 1914, he enlisted as a Private with the Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars posted initially with 1st Troop A Squadron to Newbury Race Course which was used to accommodate large numbers of soldiers, horses and German prisoners. Late in the year his unit, which was expected to go to France, was unexpectedly sent to Sheringham, Norfolk. After a spell in the 2nd Birmingham War Hospital at Hollymoor in Northfield, Birmingham and home leave over New Year he was back in King's Lynn in early January 1915 in time to witness an attempted Zeppelin attack. By March there were rumours that his Regiment would be posted to Egypt in preparation for joining the war in Turkey. By the end of the month this had been confirmed and preparations were in hand to move to Avonmouth on April 6th-8th 1915 and to sail on April 7th-9th. By mid April his squadron was on active service as part of the 1st South Midland Mounted Brigade of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force making its way to Egypt via Malta. Between May and July there was a relaxed period of military service: camped near the sea at Chatby camp, Alexandria there was hot weather to enjoy and daily swims to fit around caring for the horses, although there was also training in the desert and a trip via the Pyramids to Cairo escorting Turkish prisoners to a concentration camp. In August the Regiment was sent to Gallipoli to fight as infantry but in mid October he was invalided to St Andrews Hospital, Malta with dysentery. This resulted in further treatment at the Military Hospital at Hollymoor, Birmingham. He was discharged just before Christmas 1915 and was sent to convalesce at the Bridge Inn, Worcester where the routine consisted of roll calls and parades separated by free time.

He took his flying certificate in a Hall Bi-plane at Hall School, Hendon on March 31st 1916. On April 29th, he was appointed temporary Second Lieutenant for duty with the Royal Flying Corps (R.F.C) and served initially with 24 Squadron. He was awarded the Air Force Cross on June 3rd 1918. This was an award for courage or devotion to duty but not in active operations against the enemy, and recognised his work in developing training programmes and encouraging recruitment to the R.F.C. Posting to France followed, and photographs from the archives of the Imperial War Museum picture him on June 21st 1918 alongside the officers and scouts of 85 Squadron at St Omer Aerodrome. On September 3rd 1918 he married Lily Eleanor Miller in London. The Distinguished Flying Cross, an military decoration for those involved in active operations, was awarded on November 2nd 1918 when he led a formation of six machines to attack and bring down enemy scouts. This followed a period of seven weeks in which he had brought down seven enemy machines. On February 8th 1919 he was awarded a bar to the D.F.C for carrying out twelve reconnaisance trips which gathered valuable information, and for his role in supporting ground troops by an attack on an enemy machine gun nest. This was followed by a second bar on June 3rd 1919 in recognition of his distinguished service during the war.

Royal Air Force
On November 1st 1919 he received a permanent commission as Flight Lieutenant in the newly formed Royal Air Force. He was appointed to Air Staff Duties in April 1920, moving to the Directorate of Training at the Air Ministry in October 1922. On January 1st 1924 he was promoted to Squadron Leader, and in July of the same year he was appointed to command 58 Squadron jointly with Squadron Leader Arthur Travers Harris at Worthy Down. He remained there until October 1926 when he was appointed to the Flying Training School at Netheravon. He was regarded as possessing the attributes considered ideal for an officer in the R.A.F at that time in that he was an engineer who could also fly, and who had the ability to lead men.

Air Races
Throughout this time, he continued to exercise his skills as a pilot through participation in air races. In 1923 he tied for first place for the Daily Mail Light Aeroplane Prize at the Lympne light aircraft trials. He won the Grosvenor Cup in 1924 in a Sopwith Gun and in 1926 in a Blackburn Bluebird. He was also a gifted exhibition pilot and, having been selected to give a solo display of trick flying in an early R.A.F pageant, his expertise became a standing feature of R.A.F displays: slow rolling, looping or simulating air fights.

Obituary
Walter H. Longton died in a flying accident during the Medium Power Handicap race at the Bournemouth Meeting at Ensbury Park on June 6th 1927. According to the June 8th 1927 edition of The Aeroplane 'his unfailing cheeriness under all conditions, his good nature, his humour and his real solid knowledge combined to make Walter Longton one of the best loved and most valuable men in British Aviation'. The editorial concluded that this accident may not have happened if the aeroplanes of the day had provided an all round view for the pilot. He was buried with full military honours at the church of St Mary, Upavon in the presence of 500 members of the R.A.F. A plaque inside the church was contributed by the officers and airmen of Netheravon and reads: In Memory of Squadron Leader Walter Hunt Longton, D.F.C, A.F.C, Royal Air Force, killed in a flying accident at Bournemouth June 6th 1927. Erected by the officers and airmen of Netheravon and 58 Bombing Squadron, Worthy Down, in grateful remembrance. R.I.P.