Who was Nevill Vintcent ?

Have you heard of Nevill Vintcent, and his inspiring story ? But before the story, a brief preface. The best introduction to him is contained in the words of JRD Tata, who called him “undoubtedly the founder of Indian air transport”. 

If you prefer a more graphic introduction, here are JRD’s words : “Nevill Vintcent, that gallant and immensely able man, who conceived the (Tata Airlines) project, and managed it with zest and efficiency, until he was shot down over the Atlantic ten years later, on a dangerous flight back to India.”

He was a tall, huge Britisher of South African origin, with blond hair and blue eyes, and a burning passion for flying. Aptly for his size, also a champion boxer. Born in 1902, he served briefly in the first World War, and was then commissioned by the Royal Air Force at the age of 20 years, where he was honoured for his exceptional courage. Once, piloting a fighter bi-plane, with only a navigator to keep him company, he had to force-land his plane in the Arabian desert. Hostile Arabian horsemen immediately rushed at the plane to capture both its occupants. Vintcent quickly got out, lifted the rear of the aircraft, put it on his shoulder, and turned it around manually, so that the navigator could use the mounted gun (aircraft in those days had a single fixed machine gun) to fire at the Arab tribesmen. They dispersed immediately.

How did this man become co-founder of air transport in India, alongside JRD Tata? That exciting voyage started when Vintcent came to India in the late 1920s, alongwith a colleague, in his De Havilland aircraft. After the World War had ended, he had flown air mail between Borneo and the Straits settlements, and he was now convinced that India had huge potential for commercial aviation. In Mumbai, he first contacted Russa Mehta, the son of textile industrialist Sir Homi Mehta, with his proposal to start an airline. But he did not get a positive response there. His next port of call was JRD Tata, who had, coincidentally, just received his own pilot’s licence.

JRD and Nevill first met in 1929. Vintcent’s plan for a commercial airline in India appears to have resonated with the young JRD. As they discussed the proposal, JRD appears to have quickly developed conviction in why India needed an airline for its future, and also the business potential of such an enterprise. But most of all, he was struck by Vintcent’s great passion, knowledge and ability. Perhaps he also saw in him the entrepreneurial streak which is required to build a new enterprise.

So JRD requested Vintcent to submit a business proposal, which he took up to Sir Dorabji Tata, the then Chairman of the Tata Group. After some hesitation, and reassured by the fact that the initial investment required was only Rs. 2 lakh, Sir Dorab agreed. The Tatas wrote to the British Government of India, seeking the Government’s support and approval for commencing an airline in the country. 

That led to a great amount of protracted correspondence, for the next three years. Initially, the Tatas requested a Government subsidy, which was rejected. Then, there was a lot of dilly-dallying by the Government, who were probably not keen to permit an Indian firm to start an airline. JRD Tata and his Chairman, Sir Dorabji Tata, were getting increasingly restless, even frustrated, at the various impediments being put in their path.

But Vintcent was a determined young man, who would not let Government bureaucracy come in his way, particularly because he was convinced that the Tata business proposal was in the interests of the country. He decided to take forward the conversation directly with the Viceroy, Lord Willingdon, and went all the way to Simla to seek a meeting with him. Writing to JRD from Simla, on 20th May 1931, he says – “Yesterday, I lunched at the Viceregal Lodge and managed to get about ten minutes’ conversation with H.E. (Lord Willingdon), and told him briefly about the situation….I asked him whether in his opinion Indian firms should be encouraged to engage in air transport, and he said most emphatically that he was in favour of it…I shall try to interest him further so that he may let his opinion be known.”

It took many more months before the Government would eventually approve the Tata airlines proposal. A ten-year contract for carrying airmail was eventually signed between the Tata Group and the Government of India, on 24th April, 1932. Soon, for JRD Tata, Nevill Vintcent became his expert sounding board and guide in all aspects of establishing this airline, including the type of aircraft and the operating expenses involved.

On 15th October, 1932, the inaugural flight of the Tata Aviation Service took off from Karachi, to Mumbai, piloted by JRD Tata himself. JRD the pilot “soared joyfully from Karachi with our first precious load of mail”. After a refueling stop at Ahmedabad, he landed in Mumbai at 150pm., and delivered to the postmaster 55 pounds of mail meant for the city. This was a proud day for India, the first ever commercial flight in the country.

On this occasion, too, Vintcent was JRD’s close collaborator. He received JRD at the Mumbai airport, and, within twenty minutes, took off with mail destined for Madras, with a halt en-route at the town of Bellary (which also received 6 pounds of mail). This then became a weekly feature, the Tata airmail flight from Karachi to Madras, via Mumbai and Bellary. 

Thanks to JRD’s passion for excellence, and Vintcent’s strong operational capabilities in aviation, the airline completed its first year with a perfect 100% punctuality record. The Directorate of Civil Aviation, in its report for 1933-’34, said – “As an example of how an airmail service should be run, we commend the efficiency of Tata Services … Imperial Airways might send their staff on deputation to Tatas, to see how it is done.”

The airline flourished and its profits rose substantially. Soon, the airline was carrying both passengers and mail. It was operated with great discipline and efficiency, and in 1939, a passenger could fly from Bombay to Delhi at slightly less than the first class rail fare ! 

However, with the outbreak of the second world war towards the end of 1939, civil aviation was suspended in India. The Tata aircraft were put at the Government’s command, where they rendered exceptional service to the RAF, including transporting wounded military personnel and refugees.

During this period, Vintcent would travel with JRD, and discuss with him future plans for the airline they had founded. When war broke out, Vintcent the entrepreneur immediately saw an opportunity to build an aircraft factory in India. Once again, JRD resonated with this idea, because it would provide the country with indigenous aircraft required after the war. 

Initially, the British Government agreed to support this proposal, though they would later suddenly back out. Vintcent travelled to London in 1942, where he undertook discussions with the British Government, for manufacture of the Mosquito aircraft in Indian factories. So enthusiastic was he about putting this idea into action quickly, that he wanted to come back to India as soon as possible, to firm up details.

This was wartime, and the fastest route back was to request a lift in a Royal Air Force aircraft. He did so, and boarded a RAF Hudson bomber plane on 29th January, 1942. Unfortunately, the aircraft disappeared without a trace. There was no news of Nevill Vintcent. It is said that for some time, JRD Tata kept waiting for his beloved friend and colleague to come back, but he never did. 

It soon became clear that the Hudson bomber had been shot down, somewhere off the coast of France. Vintcent’s body was never discovered, however the sad reality soon dawned on everyone. The man who had helped co-found India’s first airline along with JRD, had passed away from the face of our earth, at the young age of 40 years.

RM Lala, JRD Tata’s biographer, narrates a beautiful French quote which JRD would sometimes use. “When someone dear to us passes away, a part of us dies with him too.” This was clearly the case with JRD Tata and Nevill Vintcent. The two men had associated so closely, that their bonds went beyond work alone. They had immersed themselves in creating a new industry for India, commercial aviation, a space that would soon become very important to its future.

It is said that JRD Tata kept a photograph of Vintcent on his worktable, next to a picture of his Father. Undoubtedly, Jeh was fond of him, and he also respected him for all his contributions towards creating and nurturing Tata Airlines, which went on to become Air India. 

This story is important for two reasons. First, to pay tribute to Nevill Vintcent, who conceptualized India’s first commercial airline, and then helped JRD Tata establish it. He came from a foreign land, with a dream for India, and brought his proposal to glorious life. We should not forget him. 

Second, to reflect on the nature of professionals such as Vintcent – who combine restless entrepreneurship, commitment to excellence, and total dedication. Such are the leaders who open and create successful new horizons, for any enterprise. (Harish Bhat, Brand Custodian, Tata Sons)

(Pause for a moment to view the photograph above. Here, you can see Nevill Vintcent standing to the immediate left of JRD Tata, immediately after the inaugural flight of Tata Airlines landed in Mumbai, on 15th October 1932. Thanks to the Tata Central Archives, Pune, for providing this picture.)