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Online exhibition: Alcock and Brown
Online exhibition: Alcock and Brown
A series of exhibition panels about how two men made the first trans-Atlantic crossing in 1919
Lord Northcliffe's challenge
On 1 April 1913, Lord Northcliffe, owner of The Daily Mail, offered £10,000 to the first pilot that could fly nonstop across the Atlantic.
The Men
Alcock and Brown both flew and fought in the World War One. They later teamed up to cross the Atlantic.
The Vimy Aircraft
The Vimy model was designed by Rex Pierson, chief designer at Vickers. The prototype was built in Crayford. The Vimy set several records of long distance flights.
The Flight
The momentous flight took place on 14 and 15 June. Alcock and Brown waited in Newfoundland until a break in the bad weather, then took off.
After the Flight
When Alcock and Brown awoke on 16 June 1919, everyone wanted a glimpse of the famous pair. Their prize was presented by Winston Churchill.
The Princesses' Theatre
Alcock's and Brown's achievement was celebrated at the Vickers theatre in Crayford.
Histories
Online exhibition: Alcock and Brown
Wilfred Salmon: Online exhibition
Archives and artefacts
Online exhibition: Sir Cloudseley Shovell
History of Vickers Crayford
Crayford: A Magnificent Town and Its Flying Machines
History of Swaislands
The Fabric of our Town: Online Exhibition
Crayford's First World War
William White's War
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