JAMES Bros., No.l and 2 biplanes (Henry Howard and John Herbert James, Narberth, Pembrokeshire)

   The James brothers built a Caudron type C single-seater biplane with a 45hp Anzani engine, in the second half of 1913. It was the younger brother, Herbert, who was flying the machine on its initial flight on 25 September 1913, when it crashed on test at Clynderwen. Although considerable damage was done, it was repairable and Herbert suffered only minor injuries.
   The aircraft, which was built with a single rudder, had carried 'James Bros. No. 1' on both the rudder and the lower wings. When the aircraft was rebuilt as No.2 it was a two-seater with the later Caudron-type twin triangular rudders, and small fixed fins and was unmarked. Herbert flew it again in this form on 22 November 1913, but damaged the propeller on landing. It was not until 20 April 1914 that flying recommenced, with increasing success until the outbreak of war.
   The brothers had originally become involved in aviation by an apprenticeship with the Gloucester firm of Webb, Peat & Co. which was terminated with the liquidation of that firm. Thereafter they enrolled with the International Correspondence School, to study aeronautical theory, and moved to Hendon for flying tuition, both receiving their Aviation Certificates in October 1912. They continued at the Ewen School as instructors, until returning to Wales, in the summer of 1913, to build the aircraft at Narberth, where, in July 1914, they planned to operate a small aircraft factory. A monoplane was in course of design but this, and the factory scheme, were discontinued with the outbreak of war. The biplane was moved to the Ruffy Baumann School in February 1915, and the brothers spent until the end of 1915 instructing at Hendon.
   Howard spent the first half of 1916 with the RNAS, and was then transferred to Farnborough, where Herbert was already engaged as a civilian test pilot, both becoming commissioned in the Special Reserve of the RFC in March 1917. The older brother crashed badly in December 1917 and was invalided out of the RAF in October 1918. The younger brother continued to fly after the war, becoming a famous test and competition pilot for Nieuport and General Aviation Co., and later for Gloster and the Air Navigation and Engineering Co. (ANEC). He served in the RAF in a non-flying capacity in World War II, but died in February 1944 while still serving.