Captain Charles de Ricou
Captain Charles de Ricou
Extract from 'Syd's Last Pirate' - pages 315-6
The enthusiasm to form The Hong Kong Aero Club remained at boiling point. Meetings were held under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce with Mr. P.H. Holyoak in the chair. A membership drive attracted several with flying experience from the recent world war. Regrettably, when the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the official body that regulated aviation events shelved the Around-the-World Aerial Derby the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce lost interest. Mr. Holyoak managed to retain the euphoria of the members when he told the meeting that the Governor, the Admiral of the Fleet, the Officer Commanding the Army, and the Commodore had become Patrons. When Charles de Ricou, the founder of the Macau Aerial Transport Company (MAT), based at Repulse Bay, added his interest the club’s success seemed assured. However, with no operating field, no club facilities and no planes the idea became stillborn and by 1926 had lapsed into a beautiful dream.
In June 1920, the Colony attracted a group of intrepid American aviators. Captain Charles de Ricou (Recoux), a French World War 1 ace, was their leader. With a fleet of war surplus seaplanes they set up headquarters at the palatial Repulse Bay Hotel. The water fronting the hotel had a clean clear depth ideal for floatplane operation.
His Macau Aerial Transport Company (MAT) proposed linking Canton Macau and Haiphong with Hong Kong. MAT’s prime source of income would come from Victoria, Hong Kong’s capital city, with their terminal next to the Star Ferry.
Charles de Ricou’s initial submission of return flights to Macau brought immediate approval. However, the Government set harsh altitude restrictions that contributed to the demise of this visionary enterprise, and MAT disbanded with several of its pilots flying for China.
In June 1920, the Colony attracted a group of intrepid American aviators. Captain Charles de Ricou (Recoux), a French World War 1 ace, was their leader. With a fleet of war surplus seaplanes they set up headquarters at the palatial Repulse Bay Hotel. The water fronting the hotel had a clean clear depth ideal for floatplane operation.
His Macau Aerial Transport Company (MAT) proposed linking Canton Macau and Haiphong with Hong Kong. MAT’s prime source of income would come from Victoria, Hong Kong’s capital city, with their terminal next to the Star Ferry.
Charles de Ricou’s initial submission of return flights to Macau brought immediate approval. However, the Government set harsh altitude restrictions that contributed to the demise of this visionary enterprise, and MAT disbanded with several of its pilots flying for China.
Charles Edmond William de Ricou, Croix de Guerre, during military service, Indochina, 1918.
Aeromarine float plane beached at Repulse Bay. The famous Repulse Bay Hotel just off the right border. (Photos: Cliff Dunnaway.
Before this happened, de Ricou ran afoul of the Chinese and Macanese governments. The Chinese Foreign Minister sent his secretary to question de Ricou. Why did he sell two planes to the rebel general, Chan Keung Meng? Why did his company’s planes fly to interior China without permission smuggling opium? Shortly afterwards de Ricou found himself standing before the Macao Chief of Police. In the manner of a despot the Chief demanded all future flights to China be abandoned.
On 11 July 1924 Charles Edmond William de Ricou, Croix de Guerre, returned to France where he became a successful businessman. During World War 2 he distinguished himself as a resistance leader. After a long illness he died in France on 21 December 1961.
On 11 July 1924 Charles Edmond William de Ricou, Croix de Guerre, returned to France where he became a successful businessman. During World War 2 he distinguished himself as a resistance leader. After a long illness he died in France on 21 December 1961.
A Story Away From It All
In Search of a Memory
HK General Chamber of Commerce Bulletin No. 20
15 October 1966
Internet links to Captain Charles de Ricou
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pilots_with_foreign_Aviator%27s_Certificates_accredited_by_the_Royal_Aero_Club_1910%E2%80%9314#cite_note-flight10140515-45
- https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1914/1914%20-%200514.html
- https://nenotavaiconta.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/noticia-de-3-de-fevereiro-de-1920-the-macao-aerial-transport-co-ltd/
- https://nenotavaiconta.wordpress.com/tag/charles-ricou/
