AIR COMMODORE SIR FRANK WHITTLE
Engineer and Inventor
Eldest of three children, he was born in Coventry on 1st June 1907, his parents coming from a working class background. His father owned a small engineering business where the young Whittle learned practical engineering skills.
He joined the Royal Air Force as an apprentice air mechanic, subsequently being recommended for officer training at RAF Cranwell where he learnt to fly. In 1928 he joined 111 Fighter Squadron flying the Siskin. The following year he trained as an instructor and later became a test pilot. In 1932 he attended an Officer Engineering course at RAF Henlow where his exceptional performance earned him a place at Cambridge University, where he graduated in 1936.
While still in the RAF he formed, with others, Power Jets Ltd to develop and build the jet engine he had designed. In 1940 the Air Ministry placed an order with Gloster aircraft for the E28/39 to be powered by Whittle’s engine. It made its maiden flight on 15 May 1941. The Rover Company was contracted to produce the engine, but problems between them and Power Jets led to Rolls Royce acquiring Rover’s jet engine factory at Barnoldswick in January 1943. The first Meteor jet fighter flew on 12 June 1943, powered by the Whittle-designed Rolls Royce Wellend.
Power Jets was nationalized in 1944. Whittle was given only £10,000 for his shares in the company, but in may 1948 he was given £100,000 in recognition of his work on the jet engine.
He retired from the RAF in August 1948 becoming associated with BOAC, Shell and Bristol Siddeley Engines.
He lived at Chagford in Devonshire from 1963 until 1976 when he emigrated to America where in the following year he became Research Professor at the US Naval Academy (Annapolis,Maryland).
Whittle died on 9 August 1996 at his home inColumbia,Maryland. His ashes were flown to England where they are interred in the memorial chapel of St Michael’s and All Angels’ Church, RAF Cranwell. He is also commemorated by a statue in Coventry city centre.