Geoffrey de Havilland
Geoffrey de Havilland | |
|---|---|
Painting of de Havilland | |
| Born | 27 July 1882 High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Died | 21 May 1965 (aged 82) Watford, Hertfordshire, England |
| Education | Crystal Palace School of Engineering |
| Occupation | Aircraft engineer |
| Spouses | Louise Thomas
(m. 1909; died 1949)Joan Mary Frith
(m. 1951) |
| Children | 3 sons, including Geoffrey Jr. and John |
| Relatives | Hereward de Havilland (brother) Dame Olivia de Havilland (cousin) Joan Fontaine (cousin) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Service years | 1912–1919 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Royal Flying Corps |
| Conflicts | First World War |
| Awards | Air Force Cross (AFC) Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) |
Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, OM, CBE, AFC, RDI, FRAeS (27 July 1882 – 21 May 1965) was an English aviation pioneer and aerospace engineer who founded the aircraft company de Havilland. The company produced the Mosquito, which has been considered the most versatile warplane ever built, and his Comet was the first jet airliner to go into production.