Collection of letters relating to Watson demonstrating his aeroplane to the Royal Flying Corps at Th
Forwarded to me by prominent aviation historian Philip Jarrett, this binding of letters held in the AIR files at The National Archive at Kew is quite a find and adds genuinely new information to Watson's aviation history. Within are letters between RFC personnel discussing Watson's No.3 and one outlining its design. The earliest correspondence is dated 7 June 1913, with a letter between Major William Sefton Brancker, General Staff for the Director of Military Training dated 17 June, to the Officer Commanding of the Royal Flying Corps Military Wing in which Brancker states that he had received an invitation from Watson to inspect his aeroplane. Following from this are letters between No.2 Sqn, RFC personnel, who were instructed to view the machine, although they are advised by Watson not to visit owing to the machine's incomplete state.
These letters reveal much information on Watson's intent with regards to his third aeroplane and his efforts overall; interesting the military in his concepts, although his own reluctance to commit to a date which RFC personnel could view his aeroplane and its lack of completion might have been the reason behind no further action on the RFC's part being taken with regards to the machine. Further information on the letters can be found within the text of the pages on Watson's No.2 and No.3 aeroplanes; the No.2, as Watson offered it to No.2 Sqn at Montrose, but it is not known whether this was taken up or not. For more information on the letters' contents, take a look here: Watson's No.2 and Watson's No.3
