1917

  One of the original 16 pilots of Imperial Airways in 1924

b. London 31 May 1895

with Handley Page Transport Co 1920-24

Feb 1928: "Capt W Rogers, an Imperial Airways pilot, while testing an air liner, saw smoke and flames coming from the roof of a house near Croydon. He kept flying around the building until he had attracted attention to the house."

Lived at 'Le Bourget', Cosdach Avenue, Wallington, Surrey in 1932

1934

His grand-daughter kindly tells me that "He was a great character, full of fascinating stories of his flying days, very humourous, and proud to be a Cockney - he was known as "Wally Cockney." He enjoyed life, and lived to the age of 81. There is a BBC programme, made in the 1970s in which he and other pilots of the inter-war years were interviewed. The series was called "Yesterday's Witness" and the episode is "To Paris - By Air!"