This Is Your Life: Robert McIntosh

Wing Commander Robert MCINTOSH DFC, AFC (1894-1983)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Robert Henry McIntosh, aviation pioneer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews outside the BBC Television Theatre.

Robert joined the Merchant Navy at the age of 15, and became the Captain’s ‘tiger’ aboard the 5000 tonne Canadian-Pacific freighter Montfort. However, he decided the sea was not for him, and at the outbreak of the First World War he became an Army despatch rider on the battlefields of Flanders, before joining the newly formed Royal Flying Corps.

After the war he gained his civil pilot’s licence and became a pioneer of civil aviation, making the world’s first ground-controlled approach in the history of aviation at a foggy Croydon airport in 1923, and hence was consequently known as ‘All Weather Mac’.

During the Second World War Robert trained young pilots before joining the Air-Sea Rescue service. He returned to civil flying again after the war, and also tried racing – winning the Daily Express Air Race in 1962.

programme details...

Edition No: 203
Subject No: 204
Broadcast date: Tue 20 Nov 1962
Broadcast time: 7.55-8.25pm
Recorded: Mon 12 Nov 1962 8.00pm
Venue: BBC Television Theatre
Series: 8
Edition: 8

on the guest list...

Ronald MacDonald
Hughie MacDonald
Bob Law
Geoffrey Dorman
Col James Fitzmaurice DFC
Hon Mrs Florence Westenra
Evan Edwards
Air Vice Marshall Frank Hopps CB, CBE, AFC
Flt Lt Ian McIntosh - son
Mrs McIntosh - daughter-in-law - live link from Southampton
Richard McIntosh - grandson - live link from Southampton
Maeline Gildersleeve (Mrs Roessler)
Sybil Thorndike

production team...

Director: Vere Lorrimer
Producer: T Leslie Jackson

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Military Life

saluting the armed forces

Sybil Thorndike

Robert Mcintosh and guest with Eamonn Andrews on This Is Your Life

Series 8 subjects