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419:
77:
865:
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.
860:
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
864:
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English countryside on an outdated motorcycle with just a few shillings in his pocket.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
743:. 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.
557:
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.
674:
881:(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).
509:
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
1375:
618:
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
566:
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
1291:
802:(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
1385:
747:
1370:
1350:
1395:
708:
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
131:
852:
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.
1360:
791:
1410:
370:
320:
55:
1405:
384:
330:
61:
1330:
1117:
1380:
787:
570:
Limited, he operated airlines and airfields throughout
Britain and ran flying clubs. He commissioned an advanced light aircraft, the
1390:
578:
aircraft, the same year he became a naturalised
British citizen. On 18 October 1938, the Straight Corporation purchased control of
398:
67:
17:
1365:
716:
corporation in 1946, Straight was its deputy chairman. In July 1947, he became managing director and chief executive officer of
1355:
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893:
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.
717:
225:
838:
391:
64:
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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
579:
1148:
1335:
1087:
515:
1305:
1204:
648:, bringing his total to 3 and 1 shared ( with 2 'probables') by late July 1941. Early in 1941 he was awarded a
346:
441:
and she inherited $ 15,000,000 from her father. He was almost six years old when his father died in France of
1015:
721:
1340:
619:
810:. Lady Daphne's maternal uncles included, Anthony J. Drexel II, who married Marjorie Gould, daughter of
778:
1345:
807:
751:
591:
466:
205:
160:
1242:
586:. His commercial airline business in the later 1930s was reputed to be carrying more passengers than
422:
915:
640:. From September 1940 until April 1941, he was credited with two aircraft destroyed. He then became
713:
546:
35:
1049:
1400:
1000:
720:. In 1949, Straight was appointed deputy chairman of the board. In the United States his cousin,
667:. However he escaped on 22 June 1942 and with the aid of the French Resistance reached safety in
530:
506:
470:
438:
403:
335:
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where he attended the progressive school founded by his parents. His education was completed at
697:
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He was shot down by flak over France on 31 July 1941 and initially evaded capture. Through the
606:
pilot. He was sent to Norway in April 1940 to find frozen lakes suitable for use as airfields.
575:
31:
861:
fortune. It is difficult to make real friends and nobody appreciates you at your true worth".
815:
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534:
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On 17 July 1935 he married Lady Daphne
Margarita Finch-Hatton (1913–2003), the daughter of
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545:. In 1934 he formed his own motor racing team, personally driving to victory in the
1415:
845:(1904–1982) and The Hon. Ursula Margaret Dawson (1907–1999)). They had 4 daughters.
834:
818:(1891–1958), who was also an aviation pioneer. Daphne was also a 4x great niece of
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877:, the first British woman to break the sound barrier. Diana was the daughter of
724:(1899–1992), was the President of Aviation Corporation of America, which became
1295:
873:
While
Straight was married to Lady Daphne, he had an affair with noted aviator
833:
Camilla
Caroline Straight, who on 22 June 1960, married Michael Ian Vansittart
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377:
325:
58:
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514:. Straight started competing in 1931 with a Brooklands Riley competing at
842:
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446:
916:"Whitney Willard Straight - International Motor Racing Research Center"
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571:
554:
553:
finished third in the same race. He also gave public demonstrations at
526:
200:
668:
542:
442:
1273:
Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Cdre Straight
418:
522:
549:, held on the 16-mile Buffalo circuit in East London. His brother
505:
While still an undergraduate at Cambridge, he became a well known
76:
680:
461:(1893–1974) in 1925, the family moved to England. They lived at
890:
118:
1376:
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
429:
Born in New York City, Whitney Straight was the son of Major
406:
driver, aviator, businessman, and a member of the prominent
1033:
602:
During the Second World War, Whitney Straight served as a
457:. Following his mother's remarriage to British agronomist
868:
782:
Whitney Straight and Lady Daphne Finch-Hatton (1913–2003)
625:
For his service in Norway, he was awarded the Norwegian
537:(16 September). He also won the 1100 c.c. class in the
829:
Together, Whitney and Lady Daphne had two daughters:
758:. The award consisted of a cheque and a sculpture by
679:
Straight with Sheikh Khalifa, cousin of the ruler of
1243:"Diana Barnato Walker, Acclaimed Pilot, Dies at 90"
1007:
798:(1887–1931), a famous pilot who was involved with
1039:Those Other Eagles; Shores, 2004 biog on page 577
1312:
1386:Recipients of the War Cross with Sword (Norway)
484:, U.S. ambassador to Britain, his uncle in law
794:(1885–1952). Lady Daphne's paternal uncle was
1371:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
1112:
1110:
1108:
1058:(Supplement). 15 December 1942. p. 5506.
788:Guy Finch-Hatton, the 14th Earl of Winchilsea
731:Around this time he was also on the board of
692:, he was sent to the Middle East joining HQ,
321:Commander of the Order of the British Empire
754:to recognise the achievement and status of
433:(1880–1918) and one of the richest heiress
1351:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom
1105:
480:Among his relations were his first cousin
75:
1396:Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society
27:Royal Air Force Air Commodore (1912–1979)
1118:"Deaths STRAIGHT, LADY DAPHNE MARGARITA"
1048:
777:
673:
632:After convalescing, he next served with
590:, on short routes within the UK, flying
417:
1234:
1143:
1141:
1013:
402:(6 November 1912 – 5 April 1979) was a
14:
1361:Royal Air Force pilots of World War II
1313:
869:Relationship with Diana Barnato Walker
525:, he won the Mountain Championship at
1240:
1199:
1197:
541:, held at Pescara, Italy, driving an
1411:Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge
1149:"Whitney Straight to Wed in England"
1138:
1016:"THE FIRST SOUTH AFRICAN GRAND PRIX"
718:British Overseas Airways Corporation
574:, and in 1936 he helped develop the
521:In 1933, driving a black and silver
518:, Southport and Brooklands circuit.
226:British Overseas Airways Corporation
683:, and his two sons, 18 January 1945
663:where he was captured and put in a
597:
24:
1406:American people of English descent
1194:
580:Norman Edgar (Western Airways) Ltd
25:
1427:
1331:Racing drivers from New York City
790:(1885–1939) and American heiress
1381:Recipients of the Military Cross
1292:Obituary of Diana Barnato Walker
773:
712:. With the establishment of the
703:
659:, he made his way to unoccupied
1391:Officers of the Legion of Merit
1222:
1169:
1080:
1074:
1071:; Shores, 2004 biog on page 577
1062:
1042:
978:, October 1933, Pages 540, 542.
500:
477:who attended the same college.
473:. He became close friends with
143:
1366:Royal Air Force group captains
1241:Burns, John F. (12 May 2008).
993:
981:
969:
957:
945:
942:, December 1933, Pages 90, 92.
933:
908:
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347:Officer of the Legion of Merit
13:
1:
896:
688:In September 1942, now as an
425:, 1130 Fifth Avenue, New York
413:
1356:Brighton Speed Trials people
722:Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
7:
1004:, 28 December 1934, Page 4.
792:Margaretta Armstrong Drexel
620:Prince George, Duke of Kent
592:de Havilland Dragon Rapides
224:Managing Director and CEO,
10:
1432:
1205:"Whitney Willard Straight"
1177:"Whitney Willard Straight"
808:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
752:Royal Aeronautical Society
737:post-war Labour government
431:Willard Dickerman Straight
331:Distinguished Flying Cross
206:Trinity College, Cambridge
161:Willard Dickerman Straight
29:
990:, December 1933, Page 84.
966:, October 1933, Page 572.
954:, December 1933, Page 85.
561:
495:
488:and his first cousin the
437:(1887–1968), daughter of
423:Willard D. Straight House
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45:
34:. For the publisher, see
1231:by Diana Barnato-Walker.
884:
746:In 1967, he donated the
714:British European Airways
652:for his work in Norway.
547:South African Grand Prix
366:Whitney Willard Straight
132:Lady Daphne Finch-Hatton
36:Michael Whitney Straight
18:Whitney Willard Straight
1306:Whitney Willer Straight
1001:The Manchester Guardian
531:Mont Ventoux Hill Climb
507:Grand Prix motor racing
449:while serving with the
439:William Collins Whitney
404:Grand Prix motor racing
336:Mentioned in Despatches
1336:English racing drivers
1209:uniquecarsandparts.com
837:(b. 1934) (the son of
822:, through her brother
806:(1826–1893), all from
783:
748:Whitney Straight Award
698:Air Officer Commanding
685:
576:Miles Whitney Straight
533:(3 September) and the
426:
32:Miles Whitney Straight
30:For the aircraft, see
816:John Armstrong Drexel
804:Anthony Joseph Drexel
781:
677:
535:Brighton Speed Trials
435:Dorothy Payne Whitney
421:
264:Years of service
167:Dorothy Payne Whitney
1181:exetermemories.co.uk
1088:"The Woman Engineer"
1020:classiccarafrica.com
875:Diana Barnato Walker
824:Edward Austen Knight
726:Pan American Airways
665:prisoner-of-war camp
646:No. 242 Squadron RAF
634:No. 601 Squadron RAF
627:War Cross with sword
612:No. 263 Squadron RAF
568:Straight Corporation
341:War Cross with Sword
286:No. 601 Squadron RAF
584:Western Airways Ltd
459:Leonard K. Elmhirst
1341:Grand Prix drivers
1248:The New York Times
1229:Spreading My Wings
1154:The New York Times
1123:The New York Times
1069:Those Other Eagles
1055:The London Gazette
920:racingarchives.org
796:Denys Finch Hatton
784:
686:
657:French Underground
642:commanding officer
616:Norwegian Campaign
490:Hon. Dorothy Paget
451:United States Army
427:
301:Norwegian Campaign
1346:Brooklands people
889:Straight died in
756:women in aviation
694:No. 216 Group RAF
638:Battle of Britain
582:. and renamed it
486:Lord Queenborough
360:
359:
306:Battle of Britain
230:Deputy Chairman,
184:Beatrice Straight
16:(Redirected from
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762:. It was won by
760:Barbara Hepworth
610:was utilised by
598:Second World War
588:Imperial Airways
512:Second World War
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296:Second World War
241:Military service
190:Michael Straight
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84:Personal details
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52:Whitney Straight
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1157:. 11 April 1935
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467:Trinity College
463:Dartington Hall
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1126:. 5 June 2003
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48:Air Commodore
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1302:, 9 May 2008
1299:
1285:
1279:Sunday Times
1278:
1252:. Retrieved
1246:
1236:
1228:
1224:
1212:. Retrieved
1208:
1184:. Retrieved
1180:
1171:
1159:. Retrieved
1152:
1128:. Retrieved
1121:
1095:. Retrieved
1091:
1082:
1076:
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1053:
1044:
1035:
1023:. Retrieved
1019:
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983:
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959:
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947:
939:
935:
923:. Retrieved
919:
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872:
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828:
785:
768:Peggy Hodges
766:in 1967 and
745:
730:
707:
687:
661:Vichy France
654:
631:
624:
601:
565:
539:Coppa Acerbo
520:
504:
501:Motor racing
482:Jock Whitney
479:
428:
365:
361:
292:Battles/wars
114:(1979-04-05)
112:5 April 1979
40:
1326:1979 deaths
1321:1912 births
1284:Obituary –
1281:10 May 1987
1214:18 February
1186:18 February
1050:"No. 35827"
1025:29 December
988:Motor Sport
976:Motor Sport
964:Motor Sport
952:Motor Sport
940:Motor Sport
925:18 February
856:Personality
843:Ian Bowater
820:Jane Austen
733:Rolls-Royce
614:during the
543:MG Magnette
475:Dick Seaman
453:during the
445:during the
232:Rolls-Royce
1315:Categories
1161:3 February
1130:3 February
897:References
764:Anne Burns
572:Hendy Heck
555:Brooklands
527:Brooklands
414:Early life
246:Allegiance
218:Chairman,
201:Alma mater
95:1912-11-06
1286:The Times
1097:22 August
770:in 1970.
669:Gibraltar
629:in 1942.
471:Cambridge
443:influenza
267:1939–1945
212:Known for
192:(brother)
177:Relatives
121:, England
1254:29 March
839:Lt. Col.
523:Maserati
343:(Norway)
186:(sister)
169:(mother)
163:(father)
1416:The Few
1267:Sources
835:Bowater
750:to the
681:Bahrain
636:in the
551:Michael
154:Parents
148:
140:
136:
891:Fulham
814:, and
562:Flying
529:, the
496:Career
314:Awards
126:Spouse
119:London
1294:– by
902:Notes
885:Death
696:, as
397:
395:,
390:
388:,
383:
381:,
376:
374:,
142:(
138:
1256:2016
1216:2024
1188:2024
1163:2016
1132:2016
1099:2019
1027:2020
927:2024
841:Sir
399:FRGS
392:FRSA
282:Unit
272:Rank
109:Died
89:Born
68:FRGS
65:FRSA
739:of
644:of
385:DFC
371:CBE
62:DFC
56:CBE
1317::
1298:–
1245:.
1207:.
1196:^
1179:.
1151:.
1140:^
1120:.
1107:^
1090:.
1052:.
1018:.
918:.
826:.
728:.
700:.
671:.
622:.
594:.
492:.
469:,
410:.
378:MC
368:,
144:m.
59:MC
1258:.
1218:.
1190:.
1165:.
1134:.
1101:.
1029:.
929:.
97:)
93:(
38:.
20:)
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