664:
768:
408:
66:
854:
mechanised hobo. However, it appears that there were times when even this modest competence overcame him. In the summer of 1933, for example, when he was just beginning to lose his shine on names like Birkin and
Campbell, he admitted he was considering giving up everything he owned and spending the rest of his life in a monastery, but Straight's qualities as a driver were genuine.
849:
He was handsome, normally of a quiet and courteous disposition, Straight nonetheless had one dislike, he hated allusions to his wealth. He especially resented the way
Newspaper sensationalized him as "Boy Millionaire Race Track Idol". One columnist quoted Whitney as saying "I often wish I never had a
853:
In an attempt to prove his own value to himself, he once temporarily abandoned luxury and rode out into the
English countryside on an outdated motorcycle with just a few shillings in his pocket. He claimed to have worked as a stonemason's labourer for 30/-a week for a time while acting as a
732:. The Russians had copied the technology to produce their own version of the jet engine and were powering the MiG fighters using Rolls-Royce technology. He decided to sue the Russian government for copyright infringement. The figure claimed was £207 million which he never received.
546:
Racing
Circuit achieving a speed of 138.7 mph, a record for 5-litre class cars. He was offered a works Auto Union drive for 1935, but he refused as he had promised his fiancée Lady Daphne to retire from driving. His last race was the 1934 South African GP, which he won.
663:
870:(1895–1948), another famous racing driver, and the widow of Wing Commander Derek Ronald Walker, who was killed on 14 November 1945 in bad weather while flying. Together, Whitney and Diana had a son: Barney Barnato Walker (born 1947).
498:
driver and competed at events in the UK and Europe. Like a lot of other wealthy young men of his generation, he had passion for motor racing. He competed in more Grands Prix than any
American until after the
1364:
607:
as a result. Straight was seriously wounded during a German bombing raid in Norway. He was temporarily deaf, because of this he was grounded and appointed personal air assistant ADC to the
555:
Flying was also another of his passions. At age 16, though still too young for a pilot's licence, he had already accumulated over 60 hours solo flight. In his early 20s, as head of the
1280:
791:(1902–1986), another British pilot. Lady Daphne was half-American as her mother, Margaretta, was the daughter of Anthony Joseph Drexel, Jr. (1864–1934) and the granddaughter of
1374:
736:
1359:
1339:
1384:
697:
At war's end, he returned to the UK becoming AOC, No. 46 Group in June 1945. He was released from the RAF in late 1945, and he became chairman of the
120:
841:
After his colleague died in car crash, he promised his fiancée, Lady Daphne Finch-Hatton that he would quit racing and he never race again since.
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780:
1399:
359:
309:
44:
1394:
373:
319:
50:
1319:
1106:
1369:
776:
559:
Limited, he operated airlines and airfields throughout
Britain and ran flying clubs. He commissioned an advanced light aircraft, the
1379:
567:
aircraft, the same year he became a naturalised
British citizen. On 18 October 1938, the Straight Corporation purchased control of
387:
56:
1354:
705:
corporation in 1946, Straight was its deputy chairman. In July 1947, he became managing director and chief executive officer of
1344:
474:
882:
in 1979 at the age of 66. Lady Daphne died at her home in London on 3 June 2003, and Diana died on 28 April 2008, aged 90.
706:
214:
827:
380:
53:
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and he discovered that in 1947 Rolls-Royce had sold 55 jet engines to the Soviet Union, the sale being approved by the
568:
1137:
1324:
1076:
504:
1294:
1193:
637:, bringing his total to 3 and 1 shared ( with 2 'probables') by late July 1941. Early in 1941 he was awarded a
335:
430:
and she inherited $ 15,000,000 from her father. He was almost six years old when his father died in France of
1004:
710:
1329:
608:
799:. Lady Daphne's maternal uncles included, Anthony J. Drexel II, who married Marjorie Gould, daughter of
767:
1334:
796:
740:
580:
455:
194:
149:
1231:
575:. His commercial airline business in the later 1930s was reputed to be carrying more passengers than
411:
904:
629:. From September 1940 until April 1941, he was credited with two aircraft destroyed. He then became
702:
535:
24:
1038:
1389:
989:
709:. In 1949, Straight was appointed deputy chairman of the board. In the United States his cousin,
656:. However he escaped on 22 June 1942 and with the aid of the French Resistance reached safety in
519:
495:
459:
427:
392:
324:
454:
where he attended the progressive school founded by his parents. His education was completed at
686:
644:
He was shot down by flak over France on 31 July 1941 and initially evaded capture. Through the
595:
pilot. He was sent to Norway in April 1940 to find frozen lakes suitable for use as airfields.
564:
20:
850:
fortune. It is difficult to make real friends and nobody appreciates you at your true worth".
804:
792:
523:
423:
155:
1314:
1309:
1165:
863:
812:
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On 17 July 1935 he married Lady Daphne
Margarita Finch-Hatton (1913–2003), the daughter of
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556:
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8:
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534:. In 1934 he formed his own motor racing team, personally driving to victory in the
1404:
834:(1904–1982) and The Hon. Ursula Margaret Dawson (1907–1999)). They had 4 daughters.
823:
807:(1891–1958), who was also an aviation pioneer. Daphne was also a 4x great niece of
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419:
284:
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866:, the first British woman to break the sound barrier. Diana was the daughter of
713:(1899–1992), was the President of Aviation Corporation of America, which became
1284:
862:
While
Straight was married to Lady Daphne, he had an affair with noted aviator
822:
Camilla
Caroline Straight, who on 22 June 1960, married Michael Ian Vansittart
729:
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366:
314:
47:
1303:
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351:
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90:
36:
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527:
503:. Straight started competing in 1931 with a Brooklands Riley competing at
831:
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435:
905:"Whitney Willard Straight - International Motor Racing Research Center"
752:
560:
543:
542:
finished third in the same race. He also gave public demonstrations at
515:
189:
657:
531:
431:
1262:
Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Cdre Straight
407:
511:
538:, held on the 16-mile Buffalo circuit in East London. His brother
494:
While still an undergraduate at Cambridge, he became a well known
65:
669:
450:(1893–1974) in 1925, the family moved to England. They lived at
879:
107:
1365:
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
418:
Born in New York City, Whitney Straight was the son of Major
395:
driver, aviator, businessman, and a member of the prominent
1022:
591:
During the Second World War, Whitney Straight served as a
446:. Following his mother's remarriage to British agronomist
857:
771:
Whitney Straight and Lady Daphne Finch-Hatton (1913–2003)
614:
For his service in Norway, he was awarded the Norwegian
526:(16 September). He also won the 1100 c.c. class in the
818:
Together, Whitney and Lady Daphne had two daughters:
747:. The award consisted of a cheque and a sculpture by
668:
Straight with Sheikh Khalifa, cousin of the ruler of
1232:"Diana Barnato Walker, Acclaimed Pilot, Dies at 90"
996:
787:(1887–1931), a famous pilot who was involved with
1028:Those Other Eagles; Shores, 2004 biog on page 577
1301:
1375:Recipients of the War Cross with Sword (Norway)
473:, U.S. ambassador to Britain, his uncle in law
783:(1885–1952). Lady Daphne's paternal uncle was
1360:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
1101:
1099:
1097:
1047:(Supplement). 15 December 1942. p. 5506.
777:Guy Finch-Hatton, the 14th Earl of Winchilsea
720:Around this time he was also on the board of
681:, he was sent to the Middle East joining HQ,
310:Commander of the Order of the British Empire
743:to recognise the achievement and status of
422:(1880–1918) and one of the richest heiress
1340:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom
1094:
469:Among his relations were his first cousin
64:
1385:Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society
16:Royal Air Force Air Commodore (1912–1979)
1107:"Deaths STRAIGHT, LADY DAPHNE MARGARITA"
1037:
766:
662:
621:After convalescing, he next served with
579:, on short routes within the UK, flying
406:
1223:
1132:
1130:
1002:
391:(6 November 1912 – 5 April 1979) was a
1350:Royal Air Force pilots of World War II
1302:
858:Relationship with Diana Barnato Walker
514:, he won the Mountain Championship at
1229:
1188:
1186:
530:, held at Pescara, Italy, driving an
1400:Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge
1138:"Whitney Straight to Wed in England"
1127:
1005:"THE FIRST SOUTH AFRICAN GRAND PRIX"
707:British Overseas Airways Corporation
563:, and in 1936 he helped develop the
510:In 1933, driving a black and silver
507:, Southport and Brooklands circuit.
215:British Overseas Airways Corporation
672:, and his two sons, 18 January 1945
652:where he was captured and put in a
586:
13:
1395:American people of English descent
1183:
569:Norman Edgar (Western Airways) Ltd
14:
1416:
1320:Racing drivers from New York City
779:(1885–1939) and American heiress
1370:Recipients of the Military Cross
1281:Obituary of Diana Barnato Walker
762:
701:. With the establishment of the
692:
648:, he made his way to unoccupied
1380:Officers of the Legion of Merit
1211:
1158:
1069:
1063:
1060:; Shores, 2004 biog on page 577
1051:
1031:
967:, October 1933, Pages 540, 542.
489:
466:who attended the same college.
462:. He became close friends with
132:
1355:Royal Air Force group captains
1230:Burns, John F. (12 May 2008).
982:
970:
958:
946:
934:
931:, December 1933, Pages 90, 92.
922:
897:
844:
336:Officer of the Legion of Merit
1:
885:
677:In September 1942, now as an
414:, 1130 Fifth Avenue, New York
402:
1345:Brighton Speed Trials people
711:Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
7:
993:, 28 December 1934, Page 4.
781:Margaretta Armstrong Drexel
609:Prince George, Duke of Kent
581:de Havilland Dragon Rapides
213:Managing Director and CEO,
10:
1421:
1194:"Whitney Willard Straight"
1166:"Whitney Willard Straight"
797:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
741:Royal Aeronautical Society
726:post-war Labour government
420:Willard Dickerman Straight
320:Distinguished Flying Cross
195:Trinity College, Cambridge
150:Willard Dickerman Straight
18:
979:, December 1933, Page 84.
955:, October 1933, Page 572.
943:, December 1933, Page 85.
550:
484:
477:and his first cousin the
426:(1887–1968), daughter of
412:Willard D. Straight House
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23:. For the publisher, see
1220:by Diana Barnato-Walker.
873:
735:In 1967, he donated the
703:British European Airways
641:for his work in Norway.
536:South African Grand Prix
355:Whitney Willard Straight
121:Lady Daphne Finch-Hatton
25:Michael Whitney Straight
1295:Whitney Willer Straight
990:The Manchester Guardian
520:Mont Ventoux Hill Climb
496:Grand Prix motor racing
438:while serving with the
428:William Collins Whitney
393:Grand Prix motor racing
325:Mentioned in Despatches
1325:English racing drivers
1198:uniquecarsandparts.com
826:(b. 1934) (the son of
811:, through her brother
795:(1826–1893), all from
772:
737:Whitney Straight Award
687:Air Officer Commanding
674:
565:Miles Whitney Straight
522:(3 September) and the
415:
21:Miles Whitney Straight
19:For the aircraft, see
805:John Armstrong Drexel
793:Anthony Joseph Drexel
770:
666:
524:Brighton Speed Trials
424:Dorothy Payne Whitney
410:
253:Years of service
156:Dorothy Payne Whitney
1170:exetermemories.co.uk
1077:"The Woman Engineer"
1009:classiccarafrica.com
864:Diana Barnato Walker
813:Edward Austen Knight
715:Pan American Airways
654:prisoner-of-war camp
635:No. 242 Squadron RAF
623:No. 601 Squadron RAF
616:War Cross with sword
601:No. 263 Squadron RAF
557:Straight Corporation
330:War Cross with Sword
275:No. 601 Squadron RAF
573:Western Airways Ltd
448:Leonard K. Elmhirst
1330:Grand Prix drivers
1237:The New York Times
1218:Spreading My Wings
1143:The New York Times
1112:The New York Times
1058:Those Other Eagles
1044:The London Gazette
909:racingarchives.org
785:Denys Finch Hatton
773:
675:
646:French Underground
631:commanding officer
605:Norwegian Campaign
479:Hon. Dorothy Paget
440:United States Army
416:
290:Norwegian Campaign
1335:Brooklands people
878:Straight died in
745:women in aviation
683:No. 216 Group RAF
627:Battle of Britain
571:. and renamed it
475:Lord Queenborough
349:
348:
295:Battle of Britain
219:Deputy Chairman,
173:Beatrice Straight
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751:. It was won by
749:Barbara Hepworth
599:was utilised by
587:Second World War
577:Imperial Airways
501:Second World War
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285:Second World War
230:Military service
179:Michael Straight
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73:Personal details
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41:Whitney Straight
32:
31:
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1289:The Independent
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1146:. 11 April 1935
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837:Amanda Straight
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452:Dartington Hall
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88:6 November 1912
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1266:Rolls-Royce –
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505:Shelsley Walsh
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1115:. 5 June 2003
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1003:Ken Stewart.
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868:Woolf Barnato
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789:Beryl Markham
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763:Personal life
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693:After the war
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679:air commodore
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37:Air Commodore
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1291:, 9 May 2008
1288:
1274:
1268:Sunday Times
1267:
1241:. Retrieved
1235:
1225:
1217:
1213:
1201:. Retrieved
1197:
1173:. Retrieved
1169:
1160:
1148:. Retrieved
1141:
1117:. Retrieved
1110:
1084:. Retrieved
1080:
1071:
1065:
1057:
1053:
1042:
1033:
1024:
1012:. Retrieved
1008:
998:
988:
984:
976:
972:
964:
960:
952:
948:
940:
936:
928:
924:
912:. Retrieved
908:
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861:
852:
848:
840:
817:
774:
757:Peggy Hodges
755:in 1967 and
734:
719:
696:
676:
650:Vichy France
643:
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613:
590:
554:
528:Coppa Acerbo
509:
493:
490:Motor racing
471:Jock Whitney
468:
417:
354:
350:
281:Battles/wars
103:(1979-04-05)
101:5 April 1979
29:
1315:1979 deaths
1310:1912 births
1273:Obituary –
1270:10 May 1987
1203:18 February
1175:18 February
1039:"No. 35827"
1014:29 December
977:Motor Sport
965:Motor Sport
953:Motor Sport
941:Motor Sport
929:Motor Sport
914:18 February
845:Personality
832:Ian Bowater
809:Jane Austen
722:Rolls-Royce
603:during the
532:MG Magnette
464:Dick Seaman
442:during the
434:during the
221:Rolls-Royce
1304:Categories
1150:3 February
1119:3 February
886:References
753:Anne Burns
561:Hendy Heck
544:Brooklands
516:Brooklands
403:Early life
235:Allegiance
207:Chairman,
190:Alma mater
84:1912-11-06
1275:The Times
1086:22 August
759:in 1970.
658:Gibraltar
618:in 1942.
460:Cambridge
432:influenza
256:1939–1945
201:Known for
181:(brother)
166:Relatives
110:, England
1243:29 March
828:Lt. Col.
512:Maserati
332:(Norway)
175:(sister)
158:(mother)
152:(father)
1405:The Few
1256:Sources
824:Bowater
739:to the
670:Bahrain
625:in the
540:Michael
143:Parents
137:
129:
125:
880:Fulham
803:, and
551:Flying
518:, the
485:Career
303:Awards
115:Spouse
108:London
1283:– by
891:Notes
874:Death
685:, as
386:
384:,
379:
377:,
372:
370:,
365:
363:,
131:(
127:
1245:2016
1205:2024
1177:2024
1152:2016
1121:2016
1088:2019
1016:2020
916:2024
830:Sir
388:FRGS
381:FRSA
271:Unit
261:Rank
98:Died
78:Born
57:FRGS
54:FRSA
728:of
633:of
374:DFC
360:CBE
51:DFC
45:CBE
1306::
1287:–
1234:.
1196:.
1185:^
1168:.
1140:.
1129:^
1109:.
1096:^
1079:.
1041:.
1007:.
907:.
815:.
717:.
689:.
660:.
611:.
583:.
481:.
458:,
399:.
367:MC
357:,
133:m.
48:MC
1247:.
1207:.
1179:.
1154:.
1123:.
1090:.
1018:.
918:.
86:)
82:(
27:.
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