William Rowland Ding (1885-1917), early aviator
1885 Born in Alsager
1914 Resident in Newcastle upon Tyne, an engineer when he gained his aviator's certificate
1917 April 27th. Killed at Leeds
1917 Inquest Report.[1]
The story of well-known aviator’s tragic death, was told at an inquest held at the Mansion, Roundhay, Leeds, yesterday, on Mr. W. Rowland Ding, who was killed when flying at Roundhay on Saturday. The Coroner (Mr. P. P. Maitland) outset expressed his deep sympathy with the deceased's relatives remarking that the death was a loss to the country. The Jury concurred, and passed a resolution of sympathy with the relatives.
Mr. Reginald Heber Mason, of Harrogate stated that Mr. Ding, who was his brother-in-law, had been a certified air pilot for just over four years. He had been staying Queen's Hotel, Leeds, but his home address was 113, River View-gardens, Barnes, London. He was a married man. The witness, in answer to the coroner said that Mr. Ding was a very health and had exceptionally strong nerves. Horatio Henry Goodyear, a foreman erector of aircraft, said Mr. Ding was an experienced pilot. The biplane was a new one and had been examined inspectors by the firm’s inspectors earlier in the day. The machine was quite in order when Mr Ding set off for a trip. He climbed to the height of 1,500 feet, and then banked very considerably. He afterwards looped the loop twice and then the wings on the one side of the machine collapsed.
In answer to the Coroner (Mr. P. P. Maitland), witness said that excessive banking would put extra strain on the machine. It was not necessary to loop the loop in order test a machine.
The managing director of the firm who made the aeroplane, said that it was not wise to loop the loop with a new machine. It was possible to strain the machine looping the loop, and if Mr. Ding hand not done it he would probably not have been killed. Looping the loop was one of Mr. Ding’s methods of testing a machine. They had great admiration for Mr. Ding and on behalf of the firm and the workers, expressed sympathy with his relatives as also did the Coroner and the jury.
Major H. Seeker Walker, R.A.M.C. on whose house the machine fell, said that when the machine crashed to the earth there was explosion. Mr. Ding would have been killed instantaneously.
The Coroner said it was evident Mr. Ding was an aviator who could hardly go without doing some fancy flying. The jury returned a verdict of ‘accidental death.’
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Leeds Mercury - Tuesday 15 May 1917
- Royal Aero Club records