Harry Methuen Schofield

Who is Harry Methuen Schofield?

Harry Methuen Schofield was a British test pilot who participated in the Schneider Trophy competition in 1927, and who won the King's Cup Air Race in 1934.

Harry Schofield was born in Battersea, and educated at secondary school there. In 1917, he started his career in the Royal Naval Air Service, that in April 1918 merged with the Royal Flying Corps to form the Royal Air Force. He served with distinction during World War I in Italy, Albania, Salonica, Mudros and Malta. Demobbed at the end of the war, Schofield spent four years building church organs before rejoining the RAF, in which he served as a flying instructor with No. 24 Squadron.

In 1927, he was one of five pilots chosen to represent the United Kingdom in the Schneider Trophy speed competition for seaplanes, held that year at Venice, Italy. On 11 September 1927, he crashed in the practice aircraft, Short Crusader. The primary cause was later determined to be crossed aileron controls during its reassembly at Venice. On 1 November 1929, he was promoted from Flying Officer to Flight Lieutenant. After leaving the RAF, he continued as a RAF Reserve pilot, and continued to be referred to in public as Flt Lt H.M. Schofield.