Francis Rodwell Banks

Air Commodore Francis Rodwell "Rod" Banks, RAF (ret'd), CB., OBE., Commander of Legion of Honour (France), Commander of the Legion of Merit (USA), Military Order of St. Stanislaus (Imperial Russia), Hon. CGIA., Hon. FRAeS, Hon. FAIAA., FlMechE., Flnst Pet., FRSA, CEng., MSAE, (b. 22nd March 1898 - d. 1985) was a British engineer who was involved in the development of the Internal combustion engine, as well as special fuels for the engine, and was one of the people responsible for the development of higher octane fuels.

Early life

Francis Rodwell "Rod" Banks was Born on 22 March 1898, son of Bernard Rodwell and Frances Emily Banks. He married Christine Constance Grant Langlands in 1925, the couple having two daughters. He was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge.

Banks entered the Royal Navy at the age of sixteen in 1914. After promotion, he commanded several Coastal Motor Boats, his navy service ending in 1919 while on service in the Caspian Sea during the Russian Revolution.

Interwar years

Between the First World War and the subsequent conflict, he was involved in the development of marine Diesel engines, later leading to being involved as a consultant on the problems of various car, airship, and aircraft piston engines. Before long, recognising the inadequacy of existing fuels, Banks was working on the development of improved fuels, his work concentrating on increasing the octane rating, allowing the use of higher compression ratios. His work was such that he was invited to develop the fuels used in the UK's Schneider Trophy entrants, his fuel blends contributing to the success of the British entries in 1929 and 1931. At this time, he was also involved in developing the fuels used by Henry Seagrave and John Cobb in their land a water speed record attempts. Banks later joined the Ethyl Corporation in the USA, working on the fuel additive, tetra-ethyl lead.

World War II

With the coming of war, Banks entered the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a junior officer, being sent to work at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at Boscombe Down, and with his previous work attracting the attention of Lord Beaverbrook, Banks was accredited as a 'troubleshooter' and given special powers. After a while, Banks was promoted to Air Commodore and was made successively, 'Director General of Engine Production', and 'Director of Engine Research and Development'.

Post war

In 1946 Banks rejoined the Ethyl Corporation, also taking a number of directorships, 'Principal Director of Engine Research and Development' at the Ministry of Supply, Director of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and after the merging of Bristol Aero Engines with Armstrong Siddeley, their overall 'Director of Sales'. With the later mergers within the British aircraft industry, Banks became involved with the Hawker Siddeley company, becoming 'Assistant Managing Director' and 'Chief Executive (Civil Aircraft)' at Hatfield, the former home of the de Havilland Company.

Retirement

On reaching the age of 70 Banks retired, taking posts as consultants with a number of American aviation firms, which he was still active-with at the age of 80.

He died in 1985, at the age of 87.

Reference

I Kept No Diary Air Commodore F. R. "Rod" Banks - Airlife - 1978 - ISBN 0-9504543-9-7 [1]