K. B. Lee, or ‘Lee Kim Bun’ as he has alternatively been described is an elusive character who has managed to keep his background as a blank sheet of paper. He has been described as a ‘Stockbroker’ and a ‘Sportsman’, (sport unknown).
Immediately post war, unusually, he owned and had registered to him at his business address, several aircraft managed for him by the Far East Flying Training School at Kai Tak aerodrome.
He also claimed to have been a pre-war flyer in a similar post-war letter to the Civil Aviation Department. There are photographs of all his aircraft, but none of K. B. Lee. One of his American built aircraft was pictured on Repulse Bay beach after landing on the Bay.
Despite trawling through Hong Kong’s pre and post-war newsprint including the ‘Sports’ pages, nothing on him has surfaced. I’ve no idea when or how old he was when he passed away. He seems to have dropped out from view around 1950. I’ve searched sources in Hong Kong that could related to his business title but drawn a blank. I’ve trawled through detailed Jurors Lists for each year in the 1930s up to 1940, but no signs of him listed as a Juror.
I’m presuming he came from a rich family to be able to own and operate several expensive aircraft for pleasure, but there are many very rich ‘Lee families’ in Hong Kong’s history.
I suspect he may have been an ‘indulged’ son, given money and a seat on Hong Kong’s Stock Exchange to play with.
Does anyone know anything about K.B. Lee’s life and times? With one of his last aircraft it was stated in the newsprint he intended to tour in China and land his amphibious aircraft on scenic lakes. Presumably the change in regime in China in October 1949 prevented this happening.
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K.B. Lee (李劍斌, 1920-1965)
Alan Ho Thank you very much…
Alan Ho
Thank you very much for the K.B. Lee info.
From the 'year' dates given for his relatively short lifespan He could possibly be placed amongst the Far East Flying Training School pupils who appeared in pre-war newsprint for various misdemeanors, but under slightly different names quoted separately as “B. Lee” and “Lee Kim fai”.
13 September 1937-South China Morning Post
MISSING PLANE-Reported Undamaged in Chinese Territory-UNCONFIRMED STORY
A bare report that the missing Far East Flying School plane, piloted by B. Lee, which disappeared on Saturday, had been found undamaged about 24 miles north-east of Shum Chun was received in Hong Kong last night from a relative of the flyer. Nothing was said of what had happened to Lee.
Flying School officials were unable to add anything to the report. The relative is expected to arrive in Hong Kong this morning to elaborate the report.
As on Saturday, school planes, flown by Lt. P. Holroyd Smith and Lt. Longfield, made a search for the lost machine all yesterday.
14 September 1937-South China Morning Post
MISSING STUDENT FLIER SAFE-Landed Aeroplane Near Bias Bay-NOW UNDER ARREST
A letter from B. Lee, the Far East Flying Training School pupil who disappeared with an aeroplane on Saturday was received by Lieut. P. Holroyd-Smith, Chief Flying Instructor, yesterday. Making no explanation, Lee merely stated that he had landed at a beach in Bias Bay and was under arrest by the Chinese authorities pending investigations. Though the plane was stated to have been undamaged in a previous report, no confirmation of this has been confirmed. Flying School officials presume that Lee must have lost himself and had a narrow escape from drowning when his plane came down in Bias Bay. Lee took the plane up from Kai Tak at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday for three hours solo flying within three miles of the airport. He did not reappear and all Saturday afternoon and Sunday, relays of planes were sent up looking for the lost machine. A report was finally received from Chinese territory that the plane had landed undamaged.
15 September 1937-South China Morning Post
LOST HIS WAY-Aviator Who Wrecked Flying School Plane-LANDED AT BIAS BAY
Arriving back at Kai Tak aerodrome yesterday morning after his unpleasant experience near Bias Bay when he had to crash his plane, B. Lee, the Far East Flying Training School pupil revealed that the machine was severely damaged.
Lee, himself fortunately escaped injury, although suffered shock. The pilot stated that he was forced to land his plane half a mile inland from Bias Bay. He explained that the reason he was in that area when he should have kept within three miles of Kai Tak was because he lost his way.
Lee was not arrested by the Chinese authorities, but merely detained, pending enquiries. His family, well known in Canton office circles, contacted him and effected his release within 24 hours.
The plane is believed to be badly damaged and the work of salvage (which will have to be done by sea) the Far East Flying Training School is leaving as the responsibility of Lee’s parents who have agreed to see that salvage efforts are made.
5 November1937-South China Morning Post
FLYING PUPIL FINED
Action Could Have Caused an International Incident
HAD NO PROPER LICENCE
Despite the defendant’s submission that the offence was merely a technical one as he was actually a qualified pilot, Lee Kim-fai, the Far East Flying Training School pupil who disappeared while on a tuition flight in September and landed in Chinese territory, was fined $100 by Mr. K.M.A. Barnett at the Kowloon Magistracy yesterday for flying a plane without a license.
Note:- a full explanation of the events in court followed in the newsprint.
The pilot of the lost plane in September 1939
To add to the variety of names given, over at https://industrialhistoryhk.org/merchant-prince-the-life-and-many-pursu…, York Lo has included a newspaper clipping from Kung Sheung Daily News, 1937-9-13. That gives the name of the lost pilot as 李世華 (Lee Sai-wah / S.W. Lee), who was K.B. Lee's older brother.