Claude Grahame White

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Claude Grahame White (1879 – 1959) was a pioneer of aviation, and the first to make a night flight, during the Daily Mail London to Manchester race in 1910. His noted achievements though were centred in the commercialisation of aeronautics. He was also involved in promoting the military application of air power before the First World War with a campaign called "Wake Up Britain", and experimented with fitting various weapons and bombs to planes. During the war itself he mounted the first aerial defence of a city.

In 1911 he established a teaching school at Hendon, which quickly became Hendon Aerodrome. The Aerodrome was lent to the Admiralty (1916), and eventually taken over by the RAF in 1919. Grahame White's aerodrome was purchased by the RAF in 1925, after a long and protracted legal struggle. After this he lost his interest in aviation, eventually moving to Nice in his old age, where he died.

[edit] Grahame-White Aviation Co. Ltd

In 1911 a company was formed to cover his aviation interests, including the aerodromes and developed some aircraft. One of th designers was John Dudley North who would become Boulton & Pauls chief designer.