Air Commodore Whitney Willard Straight, CBE, MC, DFC, FRSA, FRGS (6 November 1912 – 5 April 1979) was a Grand Prix motor racing driver, aviator, businessman, and a member of the prominent Whitney family of the United States.
1912 Born in New York, son of Willard Dickerman Straight and Dorothy Payne (nee Whitney)
1925 After his father's death, his mother remarried to British agronomist Leonard K. Elmhirst (1893–1974); the family moved to England. They lived at Dartington Hall where Whitney attended the progressive school founded by his mother and step-father.
1929 He started flying lessons; shortly after his 17th birthday he took his pilot's licence at Haldon Flying School, Teignmouth.
Attended Trinity College, Cambridge.
1931 While still an undergraduate, he began competing in a Brooklands Riley at Shelsley Walsh, Southport and Brooklands circuit. He went onto become a well known Grand Prix driver, competing at events in the UK and Europe. He competed in more Grand Prix than any other American until after World War II.
1933 Driving a black and silver Maserati, he won the Mountain Championship at Brooklands, the Mont Ventoux Hill Climb (3 September) and the Brighton Speed Trials (16 September).
1934 he formed his own motor racing team, personally driving to victory in the South African Grand Prix, held on the 16-mile Buffalo circuit in East London. He also gave public demonstrations at Brooklands achieving a speed of 138.7 mph, a record for 5 litre class cars. He retired from racing that year, fulfilling a promise to his fiancee.
1935 he married Lady Daphne Margarita Finch-Hatton
1935 Founded the Straight Corporation Limited. The company went on to operate airlines and airfields throughout Britain and ran flying clubs. He commissioned an advanced light aircraft, the Hendy Heck.
1936 he helped develop the Miles Whitney Straight aircraft
1936 Became a naturalised British citizen.
1938 the Straight Corporation purchased control of Norman Edgar (Western Airways) Ltd. and renamed it Western Airways Ltd. His commercial airline business in the later 1930s was reputed to be carrying more passengers than Imperial Airways, on short routes within the UK, flying de Havilland Dragon Rapides.
Later he owned 5 flying schools - see Whitney Straight
1939 March: Acting Pilot Officer 601 Fighter Squadron
1939 Company director living in Paddington; also recorded as Pilot Officer 601 Fighter Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force[1]
WWII Served as a Royal Air Force pilot. Despatched to Norway in April to find frozen lakes suitable for use as airfields. He was seriously wounded during a German bombing raid in Norway[2]which led to him being grounded and appointed personal air assistant ADC to the Duke of Kent.
After convalescence, he then served with No. 601 Squadron RAF.
1940 Nov: Promoted to Flying Officer[3]
Took command of No. 242 Squadron.
1941 January: Acting Squadron Leader Straight was awarded a Military Cross for his service in Norway.
1941 Awarded DFC. Shot down over France, he made his way to unoccupied Vichy France where he was captured and put in a prisoner-of-war camp.
1942 Escaped and with the aid of the French Resistance reached safety in Gibraltar.
1942 Air Commodore Straight appointed Air Officer Commanding No. 216 Group RAF, an air transport group operating in North Africa.
1944 Acting Air Commodore Straight became CBE
1945 He became chairman of the Royal Aero Club.
1946 Deputy chairman of British European Airways. He was closely associated with the formation of Exeter Aero Club, Ltd., Exeter Airport Ltd. and Plymouth Airport Ltd. He is also chairman of Western Airways Ltd. ..[4]
1947 Reported to be appointed as head of an international safety air network[5]
1947 He became managing director and chief executive officer of British Overseas Airways Corporation.
1948 Told AP that BOAC planned to develop American traffic
1949 Appointed deputy chairman of BOAC. Also on the board of Rolls-Royce; sued the Russian government for infringement of the patents on the jet engine (without result).
1955 Left BOAC to join Rolls-Royce[6]
1959 Deputy Chairman, Rolls-Royce
1967 Donated the Whitney Straight Award to the Royal Aeronautical Society to recognise the achievement and status of women in aviation.
1979 Died in Southall[7]
1994 Bio notes.[8]