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Menu Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon DRAKE, Charles Francis Born: 1911 Died: 1942 06 02 Architect Born in England, Drake came to South Africa as a young man. He studied Architecture at the University of the Witwatersrand from 1929 until he graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Architecture in March 1935. His primary interest at the University was in aviation and his thesis concerned 'The design and construction of airports', published in the South African Architectural Record in six parts during 1935. While a student he won the competition for a 'Kiosk' in collaboration with RA BARNETT. The design was for a proposed building to be erected at the British Empire Exhibition in Johannesburg in 1936. Drake registered with the ISAA in 1935, his address at the time being c/o JS BOWIE, Benoni. He was later (n.d.) employed in the Town Engineer's Department in Germiston. He enlisted in the Air Force on the outbreak of the Second World War and his address in 1940 was the Instruction School, SAAF, Tempe, Bloemfontein. Drake was killed in action at a desert aerodrome, Bir-el-Barheirri, Libya, two years later, leaving his wife and baby son. His winning design for the kiosk and his thorough articles on airport construction show both flair and the ability for sustained technical research. ISAA 1935. (ISAA mem list; SAAR Feb 1943:43 obit; TAD MHG 3718/47) Publ: The design and construction of airports; (in 6 parts) SAAR, Apr 1935; May 1935; Jun 1935; Jul 1935; Aug 1935; Sep 1935 All truncated references not fully cited in 'References' are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon.