Peter Masefield

Sir Peter Masefield
Born	(1914-03-19) 19 March 1914 Trentham, Staffordshire, England
Died	14 February 2006(2006-02-14) (aged 91)
Occupation(s)	Aviation executive, journalist
Years active	1935–1982
Known for	Chief Executive of British European Airways, Chairman of British Airports Authority, Chairman of London Transport

Sir Peter Masefield (19 March 1914 – 14 February 2006) was a prominent personality in the British aviation sector following World War II, notably serving as Chief Executive of British European Airways during the 1950s and later as chairman of the British Airports Authority throughout the 1960s.

Life

Born in 1914 in Trentham, Staffordshire, Peter Gordon Masefield received his early education at Westminster School and Chillon College located in Montreux, Switzerland. He pursued engineering studies at Jesus College, Cambridge. His enthusiasm for aviation began in childhood, leading him to obtain a pilot’s licence while at Cambridge, which he retained throughout his professional life.

Masefield started his career as a junior draughtsman at Fairey Aviation between 1935 and 1937 before transitioning to journalism. From 1937 to 1943, he was part of the staff at The Aeroplane, subsequently becoming the aviation correspondent for The Sunday Times. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he was assigned to France to report on the activities of the RAF Advanced Air Striking Force.

Although rejected by the Royal Air Force for pilot duties due to impaired eyesight, Masefield occasionally flew as co-pilot and air gunner with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) while continuing his journalistic work. In 1943, during a daylight bombing raid on Le Bourget, his Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress sustained severe damage when its nose section was blasted off, resulting in a crash landing in East Anglia; fortunately, he escaped without injury.

After publishing a critical article in 1943 about the Ministry of Aircraft Production, Masefield was removed from frontline service by Lord Beaverbrook, who appointed him as his personal advisor and Secretary of the Brabazon Committee. This committee was tasked with planning British civil aviation after the war. Additionally, Masefield accompanied Beaverbrook to Washington DC for discussions that contributed to establishing the International Civil Aviation Organization. He also played a significant role in negotiating the 1946 Bermuda Agreement, which regulated air routes and services between the United Kingdom and the United States.

British European Airways

In 1949, Lord Douglas, then-chairman of British European Airways (BEA) and a Marshal of the Royal Air Force, appointed Masefield as chief executive at the age of just 35. Managing a substantial workforce on limited financial resources, Masefield implemented stringent cost control practices alongside innovative strategies to increase revenue and passenger numbers. These included introducing discounted off-peak fares for late evening flights and providing frequent services on high-demand routes. This commercially driven strategy led to BEA generating monthly revenues of £1 million and achieving profitability by 1955. Additional notable accomplishments during this period were the procurement of the Vickers Viscount turboprop airliner, which emerged as Europe's dominant short-haul aircraft by the mid-1950s, and successfully opposing a proposed merger between British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and BEA.

Aircraft production

After seven years with BEA, Masefield transitioned to Bristol Aircraft with the goal of maintaining Britain's significant role in civil aviation. However, the delayed launch of the turboprop Bristol Britannia meant it was unable to rival the Boeing 707 jetliner amid the dawn of the Jet Age. In 1960, with financial backing from the Pressed Steel Company, Masefield established Beagle Aircraft Limited, which by 1962 had incorporated both Auster Aircraft Company and F.G Miles Limited.

British Airports Authority

In 1965, Masefield was appointed chairman of the British Airports Authority (BAA), responsible for overseeing the UK's principal airports. The Jet Age spurred a 62% rise in passenger traffic, reaching 20 million annually, accompanied by profits totaling £38 million. Despite this success, Masefield clashed with government officials over plans for an airport development at Maplin Sands, leading to political calls for his removal. Consequently, he was not granted a second five-year term and retired from the chairmanship at the close of 1976, with Nigel Foulkes succeeding him in early 1977. After stepping down from BAA, Masefield undertook various roles including deputy chairman at British Caledonian and president of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

London Transport

In 1973, Masefield became a member of the board for London Transport. Seven years later, in 1980, Sir Horace Cutler, then leader of the Greater London Council, appointed Masefield as chairman of London Transport, a position he held for two years. Throughout his tenure, funding allocated to the London Underground was relatively limited, a fact that has drawn criticism in subsequent evaluations. Masefield stepped down from this role in 1982 at the age of 67.

Following his departure from London Transport, Masefield continued to contribute extensively as a chairperson, director, and committee member across numerous trusts, committees, and museums. His leadership roles included serving as the inaugural chairman of trustees at Brooklands Museum, involvement with the British Association of Aviation Consultants, and participation in the Croydon Airport society. He also held the presidency of the British Aviation Preservation Council (now known as Aviation Heritage UK). In addition to his administrative contributions, Masefield authored a detailed history of the R101 airship, along with an autobiography.

Masefield received a knighthood in 1972. He passed away on 14 February 2006 at the age of 91.