Robert John Lillywhite
Robert John Lillywhite (1893-1916). Early aviator
1893 Born the son of John Lillywhite and his wife Elizabeth
Robert John Lillywhite qualified for his aviator's certificate on 1st January 1914 (No. 720) at the Grahame-White School, Hendon Aerodrome, London.
He was involved in Britain’s first parachute descent from an aircraft at Hendon (W. Newell – parachutist, Frank Widenham Goodden – Pilot, R. J. Lillywhite – Passenger) and shortly after became a flying instructor for Grahame-White.
He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps on 8th August 1914 as a Sergeant Pilot. He served with 3 Squadron on the Western Front from December 1914 and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in September 1915. In the early part of 1916, Lillywhite flew with the future high scoring ace J. B. McCudden as his Observer.
On the 1st September 1916 he was promoted to Captain, but was killed in a flying accident on 26th November 1916.