and Research Division of the Air Ministry. He was elected an associate Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1920 and contributed articles on airship development to Flight and also gave lectures on the subject. Pritchard was greatly interested in engine development, and was an advocate of the use of heavy oil diesel engines for airship work, believing that the greatest danger to airships was from petrol fumes and not from the hydrogen. He was responsible for the flight-testing program of the R.38, although his wishes to subject the airship to a prolonged series of tests before delivery were over-ruled by the Air Ministry. He also maintained that turning tests should not be performed at low altitude, but should follow the German practice of performing these trials at over . On the airship's fourth flight it broke its back during a series of sharp turns at while over the Humber Estuary, killing 44 of the 49 on board, including Pritchard. His body was never recovered. Awards Pritchard was appointed OBE in June 1919 and awarded the Air Force Cross for "distinguished service during and after the War" in December 1919. References 1889 births 1921 deaths Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in England Royal Naval Air Service aviators Royal Air Force officers Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) Officers of the Order of the British Empire Balloon flight record holders Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1921