A Man After My Own Heart

How British pilot ‘buzzed’ the Kaiser

Story emerges of how daredevil pilot “buzzed” the Kaiser in an audacious stunt just days before the outbreak of the First World War

Eric Gordon England in his ENV- engined Hanriot monoplane, which he affectionately named Henrietta

Little did Eric Gordon England know that within weeks of his audacious stunt, Britain and Germany would be at war. But even in June 1914, it was devil may care, if not foolhardy, exploit.

When the pioneer pilot found himself test flying an aircraft in the skies near to the Kaiser’s yacht, he could not resist the temptation to swoop down and “buzz” it, despite orders for all aircraft to stay out of the area. Not only that, he then ascended at full throttle to fly over a passing Zeppelin.

It may read like a plot from a Boy’s Own adventure, but this was actually a real life incident, which earned England a reprimand from the German authorities. It can only be told now, a century later, after the emergence of a previously unpublished account written by the airman himself.

^{The SMY Hohenzollern II}

At the time, Gordon England, a self-taught pilot, was demonstrating a seaplane which manufacturer J.S White and Co, from the Isle of Wight, was selling to the German Naval Air Service – a sign of how cordial relations were between the two countries, even in the weeks before the outbreak of the war.

I’m sure that given a chance I would never have done something so reckless and irresponsible. I mean it’s not like I buzzed the great pyramids of Giza or anything…..oh, wait.

How British pilot ‘buzzed’ the Kaiser

Story emerges of how daredevil pilot “buzzed” the Kaiser in an audacious stunt just days before the outbreak of the First World War

Little did Eric Gordon England know that within weeks of his audacious stunt, Britain and Germany would be at war. But even in June 1914, it was devil may care, if not foolhardy, exploit.

I’m sure that given a chance I would never have done something so reckless and irresponsible. I mean it’s not like I buzzed the great pyramids of Giza or anything…..oh, wait.

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