Description
JAMES "JIM" MOLLISON autograph Signature.
James Allan Mollison (known as Jim Mollison). British (Scottish) pioneer aviator. The first to make a solo east to west trans-Atlantic flight.
Autograph signature and inscription on headed notepaper of the Royal Aero Club, 3 Clifford Street, W1. "J. Mollison. 14.8.31. Australia-England. 8 days 20 hrs."
Approx 7 x 4.5 inches. Some foxing. Very good.
Jim Mollison was a naturally talented pilot and one of the best aviators of his generation. He became the youngest person to receive an RAF commission and the youngest to be appointed an instructor at CFS. He set many aviation records (sometimes with his wife Amy Johnson). He set fastest times for Australia to England, England to South Africa, England to Brazil and several others. In 1932 he became the first man to make the difficult east to west crossing of the Atlantic. He was something of a playboy and a heavy drinker and this, coupled with their rivalry for the same air records, led to his estrangement and divorce from AMY JOHNSON and his drinking also caused the civil aviation authorities to revoke his pilots licence. He died in a temperance hotel in 1959.
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