Charge-Hand Engineer Thomas Arthur Auckland Key was born on 09.06.1896. He joined the RNAS in 1915 and served in WW1. He had extensive experience of non rigids.
Key served on R33, R36 and R101. Although some have suggested that he served on non-rigids during WWI, an extensive search has not yielded any military rank, service file, or number. It is concluded that he was a civilian employee who was hired for his outstanding knowledge of engines.
Key was to lose his life in Oct 1930 in the R101 crash.