Career
He later served as a group captain in the Royal Air Force. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1925. On 7 December 1913, Spratt, as factory test pilot, crashed Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2a, 235, at the Farnborough Aerodrome, pilot surviving.
In 1914, Spratt set a new airspeed record in a Royal Aircraft Factory South.E.4, at 134.5 mph, bringing the speed title to the United Kingdom for the first time.
On 14 May 1914, Norman Spratt set a British altitude record of 18,900 foot while flying one of two Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.5 reconnaissance designs, the fifth and sixth machines, which were produced as single-seat "height machines", with long strut-braced extensions on the upper wing, which gave it a span of 57 ft 2.39in. On 12 August 1914, the sole Royal Aircraft Factory South.E.4, 628, crashlanded at 1145 hours while being flown by Lieutenant
Spratt when one of the wheels collapsed, airframe overturning, sustaining such extensive damage that it was abandoned. The first dogfight is believed to have taken place on 28 August 1914, when Spratt, flying a Sopwith Tabloid, forced down a German Albatros C.I two-seater.
The prototype Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3 was first test flown by Spratt in 1915.
Spratt served as a Group Captain during World World War II, but died from ill-health in 1944.
