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Sir John William Alcock

(1892-1919), Aviator and RAF Captain; pilot of the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic

Sitter in 1 portrait
Born in Manchester, Alcock served in the Royal Naval Air Service throughout the First World War. He was stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean and flew numerous missions over Turkey. A courageous solo attack on three Turkish planes won him the DSC. He was taken prisoner in 1917. On 14-15 June 1919 he and Arthur Brown as navigator made the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic in a converted Vickers Vimy bomber, receiving a prize of £10,000 from the Daily Mail. The journey took 16 hours 27 minutes. Alcock was knighted that year, but died in a flying accident soon after.

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Sir John William Alcock

by Ambrose McEvoy
oil on canvas, 1919
NPG 1894

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Sir John William Alcock

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