Backs Against the Wall
During the weekend before the flight the three aviators had spent the time holed up at The George Hotel near RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire. Captain Hinchliffe's wife had been staying too but believing they would be stuck for another few days he urged her to return home to Purley in Surrey with their two very young daughters, the youngest only a few months old. During the final wait Hinch and Elsie had been joined by Captain Gordon Sinclair who until the last moment believed that he might be part of the flight.
Due to an unexpected leak to the Daily Express a report had been run claiming that Elsie was involved with the flight and the intention was to try and cross the Atlantic. Elsie had been furious and threatened legal action if the editor didn't retract the story. Although he did, the article had been enough to arouse the suspicions of the Inchcapes and Elsie's brother and brother in law had paid her a visit at The George. Only those three people know what was said and what reassurances Elsie had made. It is entirely possible that she was still not 100 per cent committed to being on the flight, she was well aware of the risks involved. But the longer the delay had gone on, the chances of her father discovering her involvement had increased. And she knew he had the power and connections, even from Egypt, to stop the attempt.
Increasing the pressure was further unwelcome news that another attempt being prepared by a German crew in the plane The Bremen, was almost ready to take off. Hinch had said many times that it was very important to him that this first east to west crossing should be made by a British aviator. To add to the mounting difficulties of the weather, Lord Inchcape and the German flyers, came a final ultimatum from the Air Ministry. The weather had prevented them taking off within the initial permission period but now the patience of the Ministry had expired and a telegram arrived telling Elsie and Hinch that they had to move the plane from RAF Cranwell, their time was up.
On the night of the 12th of March 1928 Captain Sinclair, Hinch and Elsie stayed up for most of the night, pouring over maps, going over figures and even watching footage of the Endeavour taking off at the local cinema in Grantham so they could see how she handled. But the stark reality was that the following day the plane had to moved so a decision had to be made. Would they return the plane to Brooklands? Hinch knew that only the runway at Cranwell gave the distance necessary to get a fully fuel laden Endeavour into the air. They would never get permission again. If they simply moved the plane their dream of flying the Atlantic was over. Hinch knew that with the new rules being introduced into civil aviation, it was only a matter of time before his limited sight would bring an end to his career, and how then would he support his young family. Lord and Lady Inchcape would soon return from Egypt and Elsie knew that she would never be able to get this close again to making the flight. Further delay could also mean that the German aviators would be the first to succeed. It was clear that for Elsie and Hinch, their backs were against the wall.
Due to an unexpected leak to the Daily Express a report had been run claiming that Elsie was involved with the flight and the intention was to try and cross the Atlantic. Elsie had been furious and threatened legal action if the editor didn't retract the story. Although he did, the article had been enough to arouse the suspicions of the Inchcapes and Elsie's brother and brother in law had paid her a visit at The George. Only those three people know what was said and what reassurances Elsie had made. It is entirely possible that she was still not 100 per cent committed to being on the flight, she was well aware of the risks involved. But the longer the delay had gone on, the chances of her father discovering her involvement had increased. And she knew he had the power and connections, even from Egypt, to stop the attempt.
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| Illustration of Elsie and Hinch from an Australian newspaper from the period - the plane is not a Detroiter. |
Increasing the pressure was further unwelcome news that another attempt being prepared by a German crew in the plane The Bremen, was almost ready to take off. Hinch had said many times that it was very important to him that this first east to west crossing should be made by a British aviator. To add to the mounting difficulties of the weather, Lord Inchcape and the German flyers, came a final ultimatum from the Air Ministry. The weather had prevented them taking off within the initial permission period but now the patience of the Ministry had expired and a telegram arrived telling Elsie and Hinch that they had to move the plane from RAF Cranwell, their time was up.
On the night of the 12th of March 1928 Captain Sinclair, Hinch and Elsie stayed up for most of the night, pouring over maps, going over figures and even watching footage of the Endeavour taking off at the local cinema in Grantham so they could see how she handled. But the stark reality was that the following day the plane had to moved so a decision had to be made. Would they return the plane to Brooklands? Hinch knew that only the runway at Cranwell gave the distance necessary to get a fully fuel laden Endeavour into the air. They would never get permission again. If they simply moved the plane their dream of flying the Atlantic was over. Hinch knew that with the new rules being introduced into civil aviation, it was only a matter of time before his limited sight would bring an end to his career, and how then would he support his young family. Lord and Lady Inchcape would soon return from Egypt and Elsie knew that she would never be able to get this close again to making the flight. Further delay could also mean that the German aviators would be the first to succeed. It was clear that for Elsie and Hinch, their backs were against the wall.
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