Charles Burke (British Army officer)

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Charles James Burke

Burke in the uniform of the Royal Flying Corps
Allegiance Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Battles/wars World War I

Charles James Burke[1] was an officer in the Royal Irish Regiment[2]and the Royal Flying Corps and a military aviation pioneer.

[edit] Military aviation before World War I

In early 1911, Burke was involved in conducting heavier-than-air aircraft tests at the Balloon Factory. On 7 January 1911 Burke flew a Farman aircraft for two miles over Loaffan's Plain at 50 to 80 feet and landed near the Balloon Factory. A few minutes later, Burke attempted a second flight. However, after only 50 yards he stalled and the aircraft came to earth on its right wing, cart-wheeled and disintegrated. Burke received injuries in the crash.[3] Despite this experience, Burke was not deterred from flying. In July of the same year, he flew from Salisbury Plain to Aldershot and back and later on he made a return flight to Oxford.[4]

Burke was also one of the earliest British Army officers to consider air power in depth. In 1911, whilst serving as a captain in the Air Battalion, Burke wrote the first air power article to be published in the Royal United Services Institute Journal. In his article Burke compared the reconnaissance activities of cavalry to those of aircraft and observed that just as opposing cavalry might be drawn into battle, so could aircraft.[5]

In 1912 Burke wrote his 29 maxims for flying, including:[6]

When training pilots, no machine should go without knowing what it is to do, do it and it alone, then land.

Also in 1912, Burke became the first commanding officer of the Flying Corps' No. 2 Squadron. During the next two years, Burke trained his squadron in aerial reconnaissance.[7]

Also, in September 1912, Burke took part in the Army Manoeuvres. Burke was responsible for the control of nine aircraft under the direction of Major Frederick Sykes.[8]

[edit] World War I

Burke (as a brevet major) was mentioned in Sir John French’s despatch on 8 October 1914. The following month, on 29 November 1914, Burke was appointed the first commanding officer of No. 2 Wing of the Royal Flying Corps and he set up his headquarters at Saint-Omer. His wing comprised Nos 5 and 6 Squadrons.[9] In 1915 Burke was involved in recruiting for the Royal Flying Corps in Canada. As well as directly recruiting personnel, Burke suggested that training aerodromes might be established in Canada under British control.[10] For some months during 1916, Burke served as the Commandant of the Central Flying School.[11]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Haffenden, John (2005). "A horrid little boy, airing my views", William Empson: Among the Mandarins. Oxford University Press, 41. ISBN 0199276595. Retrieved on 2007-11-10. 
  2. ^ Om Royal Flying Corps i 1914, Del 2 (HTML) (Danish). Chakoten - Dansk Militærhistorisk Selskab. Retrieved on 2007-11-10.
  3. ^ Jenkins, Garry (2000). Colonel Cody and the Flying Cathedral. New York: Picador USA. ISBN 9780312241803. 
  4. ^ Turner, Charles Cyril [1927] (1972). "Government and Flying", The Old Flying Days. Ayer Publishing, 297. ISBN 040503783X. Retrieved on 2007-11-10. 
  5. ^ Mason, Tony (2000). "Rethinking the Conceptual Framework", in Peter W Gray: Air Power 21 - Challenges for the New Century. The Stationary Office, 229. ISBN 0117729604. 
  6. ^ Jupp, John [2005]. "4 Leadership in the Air (The Art of Leadership in the Air)", in Jupp, John: Air Force Leadership - Beyond Command? (pdf), Grint, Keith, Royal Air Force Leadership Centre, 74. ISBN 095521890X. 
  7. ^ II (AC) Squadron History WWI (HTML). Royal Air Force web site. Royal Air Force (2006). Retrieved on 2007-11-10.
  8. ^ "British Notes of the Week - Air Work at the Army Manoeuvres" (31 August 1912). Flight IV (35): 802. 
  9. ^ Dye, Peter (15 September 2003). British Air Services Memorial St Omer. RAF Personnel and Training Command website. Retrieved on 2007-11-10.
  10. ^ Heide, Rachel Lea (2 November 2002). The Struggle to Define and Integrate Alliance Commitments and National Sovereignty in Canada: Lessons from Air Training Plan Negotiations in the First and Second World Wars. Retrieved on 2007-11-11.
  11. ^ Barrass, Malcolm (2007-09-25). Other Establishments - Flying Schools and Colleges. Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved on 2007-10-11.
Military offices
Preceded by
D le G Pitcher		 Commandant of the Central Flying School
1916		 Succeeded by
A C H MacLean