A. F. HOULBERG OBITUARY
It is with great regret that we have to report the death of Mr. A. F. Houlberg, M.B.E., AFRAe.S., Chairman and Fellow of the S.M.A.E., on December 1st at the age of 68. Mr. Houlberg had a record of service to aeromodelling which gained him world wide recognition and which was unequalled by anyone. It was in 1909 that he first became
interested in aeromodelling and in 1912 raised the Duration Record to 89 sec., increasing this to 127 sec. in 1913, the year in which he was elected Assistant Secretary of the Kite and Model Aeroplane Association (a name kept alive by the K. & M.A.A. Cup), the body then appointed by the Royal Aero Club to control model flying in the U.K. Flying activities were suspended during the war, but in 1920 Mr. Houlberg was elected Chairman of the London Aero Models Association and in 1921 negotiated the amalgamation of the L.A.M.A., and the K. & M.A.A, into the Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers, being elected Chairman the following year. Between 1922 and 1936 he was continually in office either as Chairman, Vice Chairman or Vice President; then in 1937 he was elected Chairman and held this post until his death.
Mr. Houlberg's activities were not confined to British Aeromodelling. In 1946 he was elected President of the Models Commission of the F.A.I, a post he held until 1958, when he was appointed first permanent-Vice-President. In 1957, Mr. Houlberg was awarded the M.B.E. for his services to aviation and we know that he was particularly pleased with the award, not so much for any personal reasons, but because he felt that it reflected recognition of the importance of the movement. This was a typical reaction from a man to whom the modelling movement has been a life interest and it is ironical that news of his death was received just prior to this year's A.G.M., at which he was due to retire from the Chairmanship after 25 years continual service in this office.
Despite ill health in recent years, Mr. Houlberg's active interest in the Society never wavered and all aeromodellers owed him a debt of gratitude for his continual practical efforts on their behalf, a debt of which too few were aware, largely because of a self effacing modesty which did not permit him to take full credit for many of his accomplishments. We know that everyone will join us in offering our sincere condolences to
Mrs. Houlberg in her sad bereavement
interested in aeromodelling and in 1912 raised the Duration Record to 89 sec., increasing this to 127 sec. in 1913, the year in which he was elected Assistant Secretary of the Kite and Model Aeroplane Association (a name kept alive by the K. & M.A.A. Cup), the body then appointed by the Royal Aero Club to control model flying in the U.K. Flying activities were suspended during the war, but in 1920 Mr. Houlberg was elected Chairman of the London Aero Models Association and in 1921 negotiated the amalgamation of the L.A.M.A., and the K. & M.A.A, into the Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers, being elected Chairman the following year. Between 1922 and 1936 he was continually in office either as Chairman, Vice Chairman or Vice President; then in 1937 he was elected Chairman and held this post until his death.
Mr. Houlberg's activities were not confined to British Aeromodelling. In 1946 he was elected President of the Models Commission of the F.A.I, a post he held until 1958, when he was appointed first permanent-Vice-President. In 1957, Mr. Houlberg was awarded the M.B.E. for his services to aviation and we know that he was particularly pleased with the award, not so much for any personal reasons, but because he felt that it reflected recognition of the importance of the movement. This was a typical reaction from a man to whom the modelling movement has been a life interest and it is ironical that news of his death was received just prior to this year's A.G.M., at which he was due to retire from the Chairmanship after 25 years continual service in this office.
Despite ill health in recent years, Mr. Houlberg's active interest in the Society never wavered and all aeromodellers owed him a debt of gratitude for his continual practical efforts on their behalf, a debt of which too few were aware, largely because of a self effacing modesty which did not permit him to take full credit for many of his accomplishments. We know that everyone will join us in offering our sincere condolences to
Mrs. Houlberg in her sad bereavement
