Hubert Latham;
The favourite on both sides of the Channel to be the first to cross by air
26 year old Latham was French, but his forebears were English. He had studied at Oxford's Balliol College and he spoke German fluently. Rich, handsome, elegant, his trademarks, a checked cap & an ivory cigarette holder, were familiar to newspaper readers throughout France and England. Feted by women, he had hunted big game in Africa and raced motor boats at Monaco. In 1909 he first took to the air, and within three months had established a world endurance record for monoplanes, of 1 hour, 37 minutes. (It would have been even longer, but a rainfall forced him to land.) Asked by the French President what his career was, Latham replied, "I am a man of the world."
This then was the man favoured to be the first across the channel. In comparison some would say that his rival, Louis Bleriot, was almost invisible!
The Aircraft
The flying machine that Latham chose for his attempt was designed by a red bearded giant, Leon Levavasseur. An ex-artist, Levavasseur had named both his aircraft and the engine that powered it after the daughter of his business partner, "The Antoinette", a slim, graceful monoplane. The engine, advanced for it's time was a 50 horsepower, fuel injected V-8 that had a distressing tendency to stop working in mid-flight.
1st Attempt, July 19th, 1909.
Latham and Lavavasseur waited near the village of Sangatte, a few miles west of Calais, for a break in the weather. They had waited for days. The English Channel has never favoured aviators (of any age). Every day spectators came from Calais, and went home disappointed in the evening. Across the Channel Londoners came to Dover by the trainload. A White Star Liner even delayed it's sailing date so that the passengers would not miss the event.
On Monday morning 19th July, Latham decided that the conditions were right. A French destroyer in the harbour fired a 2 gun salvo, ( the pre-arranged signal that it was ready to act as escort) and Latham took off, heading for England. For just over seven miles everything went well, then the engine stopped. The Antoinette came down from an altitude of roughly 1000 feet and pancaked onto the surface. Latham propped his feet on the wooden hull, lit a cigarette, and waited for the destroyer. On arrival back at Calais, he kissed a pretty girl, took a steam bath, and announced that he was ready for a second try.
But time was running out!
2nd Attempt and Failure.
On Sunday July 25 1909, Louis Bleriot, having just landed at Dover, turned to a newspaper reporter and said, "That's it, and Latham?" The man replied "Latham is still at Sangatte." And so he was.
Hubert Latham, everyone's favourite had failed a second time. He had been left sleeping, while Bleriot had taken off and flown into history. By the time he was ready the weather had once more deteriorated and Lavavasseur had to forbid the flight. Latham jumped from the plane in tears and ran to his car. A few minutes later ha composed himself and sent a wire to Bleriot "Cordial congratulations. Hope to follow you soon."
A Daily Mail correspondent who saw Latham that morning wrote; "I saw against a background of radiant faces and enthusiastic crowds a tall, slim figure with bent head, quivering lips and hands clenched in unavailing regret for a lost opportunity. His eyes were narrowed to a slit. More than once he brushed away a tear."
Two days later Latham tried again. This time he got to within sight of Dover before the engine failed. The Antoinette came down hard, Latham gashed his forehead, and only prompt rescue saved him from drowning.
Hubert Latham died three years later on the horns of a wounded buffalo while hunting in Africa.
Latham Gallery
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