*** Welcome to piglix ***

Whitney Willard Straight

Whitney Willard Straight
Whitneystraight.jpg
Personal details
Born 6 November 1912 (1912-11-06)
New York, United States
Died 5 April 1979 (1979-04-06) (aged 66)
Fulham, London, England
Spouse(s) Lady Daphne Margarita Finch-Hatton
Relations Henry H. Straight (grandfather)
William Collins Whitney (grandfather)
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney (cousin)
Leonard K. Elmhirst (stepfather)
Guy Finch-Hatton, Earl of Winchilsea (father-in-law)
Children Camilla Caroline Straight
Amanda Straight
Barney Barnato Walker
Parents Willard Dickerman Straight
Dorothy Payne Whitney
Education Dartington Hall School
Alma mater Trinity College
Known for Chairman Royal Aero Club
Managing Director and CEO British Overseas Airways Corporation
Deputy Chairman Rolls-Royce
Military service
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Years of service 1939–1945
Rank Air Commodore
Unit No. 601 Squadron RAF
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Military Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross

World War II

Air Commodore Whitney Willard Straight CBE, MC, DFC (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.

Born in New York City, Whitney Straight was the son of Major Willard Dickerman Straight (1880–1918) and heiress Dorothy Payne Whitney (1887–1968). He was almost six years old when his father died in France of influenza during the great epidemic while serving with the United States Army during World War I. Following his mother's remarriage to British agronomist Leonard K. Elmhirst (1893–1974) in 1925, the family moved to England. They lived at Dartington Hall where he attended the progressive school founded by his parents. His education was completed at Trinity College, Cambridge.

While still an undergraduate at Cambridge, he became a well known Grand Prix motor racing driver and competed at events in the UK and Europe. He competed in more Grands Prix than any American until after World War II. Straight started competing in 1931 with a Brooklands Riley competing at Shelsley Walsh, Southport and Brooklands circuit.


...
Wikipedia

...