Christopher S. Staniland
Flight Lieutenant Christopher Stainbank Staniland (1905-1942) was a Royal Air Force pilot, racing driver, and chief test pilot for the Fairey Aviation Co.
1905 October 07th. Born in Fallow Corner, North Finchley; the second son of Geoffrey Staniland, a solicitor, and his wife Millicent Ellen Marianne Leather. The family later moved to Lincolnshire.
Educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth, then Tonbridge School, Kent
As a racing driver he won a multitude of both car and motorcycle races between 1924 and 1938, predominantly at Brooklands
1929 June 29th. Married at Southampton to Evelyn Mary Gregorie
1930 Joined Fairey as their chief test pilot
1937 Divorced Evelyn Mary
1942 June 26th. Died. Killed in an accident when his aircraft, Z1827, the second Fairey Firefly prototype, broke up over Sindlesham (now in the Borough of Wokingham). He had taken off from Harmondsworth, and crashed in a field near Hatch Farm at Sindlesham Mill.