Hereward de Havilland

Hereward de Havilland
Born	Template:Birth date
Died	September 12, 1976(1976-09-12) (aged 81)
Occupation(s)	Aviator, test pilot, businessman
Known for	Founding de Havilland Australia, test piloting for de Havilland

Hereward de Havilland (2 December 1894 – 12 September 1976) was a distinguished British aviator, test pilot, and a prominent figure within the de Havilland enterprise.

Early and family life

Born as one of the three sons of Rev. Charles de Havilland, Hereward was the younger sibling of Geoffrey de Havilland. His cousins included the actresses Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine. He fathered a son, Peter de Havilland, who pursued a career with de Havilland until its acquisition by Hawker Siddeley Aviation. Peter passed away on 27 March 1999, leaving behind a son named John de Havilland, who also worked within British Aerospace, and a daughter, Joanna de Havilland.

Hereward, along with his brothers Geoffrey and Ivon, operated a mechanical workshop at their family residence located at the rectory in Crux Easton, near Newbury. Geoffrey's inaugural flight took place in 1909 at Seven Barrows in Dorset, accompanied by Frank Hearle and Hereward. Their early aviation experiments were conducted at their grandfather’s farm, Medley Manor, close to Port Meadow outside Oxford. Within this family collaboration, Geoffrey handled the design aspects while Hereward served as the test pilot.

Career

During World War I, de Havilland participated in multiple air operations across Europe and the Middle East, achieving the rank of Major. On 10 March 1917, he received the DSO for exceptional service in Mesopotamia, distinguishing him as the youngest aviator to be awarded this honour at that time. Later that same year, he was honoured with a bar to his DSO.

In March 1927, he founded de Havilland Australia, marking it as the first international branch of the de Havilland company.

Competing solo in the 1929 Western Australian Centenary Air Race, he piloted a modified de Havilland DH.60 Moth known as "Black Hawk." He secured second place on handicap and claimed the £300 prize for fastest overall time, completing the race in 22 hours, 50 minutes, and 23 seconds with an average speed of 107.8 miles per hour (173.5 km/h). That same year, he joined the board of Airspeed Ltd. at Christchurch Airfield in Hampshire and was appointed Joint Managing Director.

His career later included managing and expanding de Havilland's operations internationally, including ventures in South America. He retired from his role as Managing Director of de Havilland's Airspeed Division in 1959 but continued serving on the board as Deputy Chairman.