Christopher Draper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christopher Draper
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|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Mad Major |
| Born | 15 April 1892 Bebington, Cheshire, England, UK |
| Died | 16 January 1979 (aged 86) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Royal Naval Air Service Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1918, 1939-1945 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | 3 Naval Wing 6 Naval Squadron |
| Commands held | 8 Naval Squadron (later redesignated No. 208 Squadron RAF) |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Croix de Guerre (France) |
| Other work | Actor, veterans' rights activist |
Squadron Commander Christopher Draper DSC (born April 15, 1892 – died January 16, 1979) was a brave English flying ace during World War I. He was famous for flying his plane under bridges. This daring trick earned him the nickname "the Mad Major".
After the war, he became a film star. He worked as a stunt pilot and also as an actor. In the 1930s, he even worked as a secret agent for Britain. He pretended to spy for another country to help his own. He returned to the Navy during World War II. Throughout his life, he flew over 17,000 hours in 73 different types of aircraft.
Contents
Early Life and Learning to Fly
Christopher Draper was born in Bebington, England. He was one of seven children. He became very interested in flying in 1909. This was after Louis Blériot made the first flight across the English Channel.
Learning to fly was expensive. Draper could not afford the fee. He wrote to his local Member of Parliament (MP), Joseph Hoult. An MP is a person elected to represent an area in the government. Mr. Hoult gave Draper money for his lessons. On October 9, 1913, Draper earned his pilot's license. He had only flown for a little over three hours.
He then joined the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) in January 1914. This was the air branch of the Royal Navy. He became a probationary sub-lieutenant. He trained at the Central Flying School. Other famous pilots were also there.
After training, Draper was sent to Eastchurch. He was promoted to flight lieutenant in June. In July, he was one of nine pilots to fly in a special Naval Review. This was the first time aircraft were part of such an event.
During the early war years, he was based in Newcastle and Scotland. He started his daring stunts here. He flew a seaplane under a bridge near Dundee. While in Dundee, he was even ordered to land his plane on the St. Andrew's golf course. He landed right in front of the clubhouse! He was promoted to flight commander in June 1915.
World War I Heroics
In mid-1916, Draper joined 3 Naval Wing. They were getting ready to go to France. He picked up his new Sopwith 1½ Strutter plane. He immediately flew it under a foot-bridge at Brooklands.
With 3 Naval Wing, he achieved his first four victories. He shot down four enemy planes. He also flew some of the first bombing missions. These missions targeted German factories. In 1917, he flew with 6 Naval Squadron. He claimed two more victories.
On June 6, 1917, his plane was hit by enemy fire. He managed to wound a famous German pilot, Lt. Werner Voss. Voss had 34 victories at the time. Draper forced Voss to land his plane. After an argument with his commander, Draper was sent back to England.
In late 1917, he returned to combat with 8 Naval Squadron. He scored three more victories there. In October 1917, Draper became the commander of 8 Naval Squadron. This squadron had pilots from many countries. It included British, Australian, Canadian, and American pilots. By the end of the war, 25 flying aces would come from this squadron.
On December 31, 1917, he was promoted to squadron commander. In March 1918, his squadron moved to France. This was just before the RNAS and the Royal Flying Corps joined together.
During the Ludendorff Offensive in 1918, the German army advanced quickly. Draper had to order 16 of his squadron's planes to be burned. This stopped them from being captured by the enemy.
Joining the Royal Air Force
On April 1, 1918, 8 Naval Squadron became No. 208 Squadron RAF. This happened when the RNAS and the Royal Flying Corps merged. They formed the Royal Air Force (RAF). Draper refused to wear the new blue RAF uniform. He kept wearing his old naval uniform.
On October 13, 1918, he was wounded by anti-aircraft fire.
One morning, Draper flew under a bridge by accident. Many soldiers saw him. They cheered loudly. Draper then repeated this stunt whenever he could. This is how he got his nickname, "The Mad Major."
For his service in the war, he received two important awards. He got the Distinguished Service Cross in April 1918. He also received the French Croix de Guerre in August 1919.
Life Between the Wars
Stunt Flying and Film Acting
After World War I, Draper tried selling used cars. When that did not work, he went back to flying. In April 1919, he became a chief test pilot. He flew the first flight of the BAT F.K.26. This was the first plane made to carry passengers.
Draper had a bad crash in 1920 while testing a plane. He was lucky to survive. When his company closed, he rejoined the RAF for a short time. He led the RAF aerobatic team in 1921. Then he left the RAF again. He continued to fly as a stunt pilot in air shows and movies.
In 1930, he was out of work and had no money. He decided to get public attention. He wanted to protest how the government treated war veterans. He borrowed a de Havilland Puss Moth plane. He planned to fly under all 14 of London's bridges over the River Thames. Because of bad weather, he only flew under two. This stunt was filmed. It made "The Mad Major" famous.
Draper's stunt work in films led him to acting. He was tall and looked good on camera. He acted in many plays and several movies. He used the name "George Mannering." In the 1935 movie King of the Damned, he played a pilot.
Secret Agent Work
In 1932, Draper was invited to an "Aces of the Air Tour" in Germany. Pilots from many countries took part. He met various German aces. He became good friends with Major Eduard Ritter von Schleich. He was also introduced to Adolf Hitler.
Because of this meeting, the Nazi Party thought Draper might support them. They knew he often criticized the British government. After he returned to England, the Germans asked him to spy for them. He agreed, but immediately told MI6, Britain's secret service. MI6 decided to use him as a double agent. This meant he pretended to spy for Germany, but he was actually working for Britain. He gave the Germans false information. This went on for about four years.
World War II and Later Life
In 1939, Draper joined the Royal Naval Reserve again. He was sent to Ford and then to Trinidad. During World War II, even at 47 years old, he served as a lieutenant commander. He was stationed in Scotland and the Gold Coast. In 1943, he commanded No. 777 Squadron in Freetown. He flew anti-submarine missions in planes like the Supermarine Walrus.
After the war, Draper did many different jobs. He worked as an actor and a store-keeper. By the 1950s, he was again unhappy with how the government treated veterans. On May 5, 1953, he repeated his famous stunt. He flew a rented Auster monoplane under 15 of the 18 Thames bridges. This was a very daring stunt. The bridge arches were only 40 to 50 feet high. Draper was flying at 90 miles per hour. He even dodged a ship.
News reports said he did the stunt to get attention and job offers. He was arrested for flying too low in a city area. He had to pay a small fine of ten guineas for court costs.
Draper told the press, "I did it for the publicity. I have been out of a job for 14 months, and I'm broke. I wanted to prove that I am still fit, useful and worth employing." He said it was his "last-ever flight." However, he kept his pilot's license for another eleven years. It was finally taken away in 1964.
His book, The Mad Major, was published in 1962. Christopher Draper died in Camden, London, in 1979.
