Edwin Moon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edwin Moon
|
|
|---|---|
Edwin Moon in Moonbeam II, the first plane to take off from Southampton Airport
|
|
| Born | 8 June 1886 Southampton, England
|
| Died | 29 April 1920 (aged 33) Felixstowe, England
|
| Resting place | Southampton Old Cemetery |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Pioneer aviator and RNAS pilot |
| Spouse(s) | Isabel Madeline Waldron (from 1911–1920) |
| Children | Daughter Mary (b. 1915) |
| Parent(s) | Edwin George Wade Moon Catherine Esther Butt |
| Awards | DSO and bar The Legion of Honour – Croix de Chevalier Royal Humane Society silver medal |
Edwin Rowland Moon (born June 8, 1886 – died April 29, 1920) was a brave English pilot and a true pioneer in aviation. He flew planes when it was still very new and exciting! During World War I, he served in the Royal Naval Air Service and later the Royal Air Force. He was even a prisoner of war and received a special award, the Distinguished Service Order, twice for his bravery.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Edwin Moon grew up in Southampton, England. He was one of four children. His parents were Edwin George Wade Moon and Catherine Esther Butt. Edwin went to school at Cranleigh School in Surrey.
In 1911, Edwin Moon married Isabel Madeline Waldron. They had a daughter named Mary in 1913.
Chasing the Aviation Dream
Edwin's family owned a business that built boats. It was called the Moonbeam Engineering Company. They made motorboats and sold parts for ships all over the world. Edwin was probably inspired by the Wright brothers' first flight in 1903. He decided to use a part of the family workshop to build his own airplane!
Building Moonbeam I
Edwin tested his first plane, which he called Moonbeam I. He flew it in the Fawley area. His first short "hop" flights happened at Ower Farm and Moulands Field. These tests helped him learn what worked and what didn't.
The Famous Moonbeam II
After his first plane, Edwin built an even better one called Moonbeam II. This plane was a monoplane, meaning it had only one set of wings. It weighed about 260 pounds. The engine and propeller alone weighed 160 pounds! It had a 20 horsepower engine and a 6-foot wooden propeller.
In 1910, Moonbeam II was taken by a horse-drawn cart to a field near North Stoneham. This is where Edwin made his first truly successful flight. We don't know the exact date, but it was sometime between April and June 1910.
North Stoneham Airfield
A year later, in April 1911, a French pilot named Maurice Tétard landed his plane at North Stoneham. He was flying from Brooklands to Larkhill. Even though he only stayed for a short time, a big crowd gathered to see his plane.
Later, in 1917, the field at North Stoneham became an important military air base. It eventually grew into what we know today as Southampton International Airport. Edwin Moon often flew his plane from Stoneham. He also flew from Beaulieu Heath and Paultons Park. He earned his official pilot's certificate in 1914.
A Hero in World War I
When World War I started, Edwin Moon quickly joined the Royal Naval Air Service. He became a flight sub-lieutenant.
Dangerous Mission in East Africa
His military adventures took him to East Africa. On January 6, 1917, he was on a scouting flight with Commander Richard Bridgeman. Their plane had engine trouble and they had to land in a river delta. To stop the enemy from capturing their plane, they destroyed it.
Then, they spent three days trying to escape and get back to their ship. They had almost no food and had to swim across many rivers. The land was very wild and hard to get through.
A Brave Rescue Attempt
On January 7, they built a raft from a house window frame. After two days of floating, they were swept out to sea on January 9. Commander Bridgeman, who wasn't a strong swimmer, became very tired and sick. He sadly died. Edwin Moon bravely tried to keep Bridgeman on the raft, but he slipped into the sea.
After being on the raft for about 13 hours, the tide changed. The raft was pushed back to shore. Local people found Edwin and handed him over to the Germans. He became a prisoner of war. He was finally released on November 21, 1917.
Awards for Bravery
In June 1917, Edwin Moon received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his amazing courage. The award recognized his constant flights over enemy areas, even in bad weather. It also praised his calmness and cleverness.
After he was released, he received a second DSO award! This was for his incredible bravery in trying to save Commander Bridgeman's life. Edwin also received the Royal Humane Society's silver medal and The Legion of Honour from France for his heroic efforts. He was even suggested for the Victoria Cross, the highest award for bravery, but he did not receive it.
His other military awards included:
Later Career and Tragic End
After the war, Edwin Moon became a Squadron Leader in the new Royal Air Force (RAF). He was in charge of the flying boat station at Felixstowe.
The Felixstowe Fury Crash
On August 11, 1919, Edwin survived a crash of a huge flying boat called the Felixstowe Fury. This plane had five engines and was getting ready for a very long flight from England to South Africa. Sadly, one crew member died in that crash.
A Final Flight
On April 29, 1920, Edwin Moon was flying a training mission in a flying boat. The plane crashed into the sea. Edwin and three other crew members were killed. Two people were rescued, but they were hurt.
An investigation found that there was nothing wrong with the plane or how Edwin was flying it. It seemed to be a sudden, tragic accident. The plane was about 1,500 feet high when it got a "bump" on the tail. This made the plane spin out of control. Even though Edwin tried to fix it, they were too close to the water to recover.
Edwin Moon was buried in Southampton Old Cemetery. His grave marker is believed to be a piece of the propeller from the plane he died in. His friends from 230 Squadron of the Royal Air Force put it there to remember him.
Images for kids
-
Moon's grave marker in 2010
