The De Havilland Aircraft Company was formed by Geoffrey de Havilland in September 1920 at Hendon before moving almost immediately to Stag Lane Aerodrome, Edgeware. Financial support came from George Holt Thomas, the founder of the Aircraft Manufacturing Company (Airco).
Early Years
Despite a few early successful single and two-seat military biplane designs de Havilland became increasingly frustrated with the Air Ministry's procedures so he decided to concentrate on commercial aircraft.
Often referred to as ‘The DH Enterprise’, the company quickly expanded its engine and propeller production becoming a major supplier to a network of aircraft producers as well as establishing manufacturing facilities in Canada and Australia in the late 1920’s.
In 1925 the company designed and started production of the very successful Moth series of light aircraft which brought it financial stability. A number of iconic aircraft followed such as the DH Dragon and DH Dragon Rapide before World War II saw a return to military types with the DH Mosquito which proved to be one of the fastest and most successful fighter bombers of the era. Its high performance also suited it to an unarmed, high-altitude reconnaissance role.
1930-1952
By 1930 De Havilland Aircraft Company Limited had established Hatfield as its main manufacturing facility alongside the newly constructed A1 Trunk Road. Other factories supported its war effort, most notably at Leavesden and Witney in Oxfordshire.
During 1940 the company expanded even further with the acquisition of Airspeed Limited which operated under its own identity producing aircraft such as the Oxford, Horsa glider, Ambassador and Consul. Eventually in 1951 Airspeed Limited merged fully with The De Havilland Aircraft Company Limited.
Over the years De Havilland, the company and de Havilland, the family faced many set backs. In 1946 the founder’s eldest son Geoffrey de Havilland Junior lost his life whilst carrying out speed trials in the DH108 Swallow, a tailless swept wing aircraft.
Only 2 years later however, company Chief Test Pilot John Derry is widely believed to have been the first British pilot to exceed the sound barrier in the DH108. Danger was evident in the life of a test pilot and Derry himself was to lose his life in a crash at Farnborough Air Show in 1952 whilst displaying a DH110 Sea Vixen.
DH106 Comet
The company suffered its biggest set back with one of its greatest technological advances, the DH106 Comet.
The worlds’ first jet airliner suffered a series of crashes between 1952 and 1954 resulting in the grounding of the aircraft and allowing the US Boeing Company to capture the valuable Trans-Atlantic market.
Metal fatigue, a new problem for aircraft construction, was found to be the cause and although Comet returned to service in 1958, the impetus had been lost.
De Havilland continued to produce innovative designs such as the three-engine DH121 Trident before finally becoming part of Hawker Siddeley Aviation in 1963.