William Whitney Christmas, M.D. (September 1, 1865 – April 14, 1960) was a physician, failed aircraft designer, and supposed con man. He was one of many claimants for an early design of the aileron.[1] He was a vice-president of the General Development Corporation.[2][3]
William Whitney Christmas
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Christmas in 1915
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| Born | (1865-09-01)September 1, 1865 |
| Died | April 14, 1960(1960-04-14) (aged 94) |
| Education | St. John's Military Academy |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation(s) | Physician Aviator |
| Spouse |
May Norris (m. 1899) |
| Children | 1 |
He was born on September 1, 1865, in Warrenton, North Carolina, to James Yancey Christmas and Rhoda Gaines. He attended the St. John's Military Academy then the University of Virginia where he obtained a bachelor's degree and a master's degree.[3][4] He graduated from George Washington University in 1905 with an M.D.[3]
He married May Norris in 1899 in Maryland, and they had as their son, Whitney Norris Christmas.
He developed the Christmas Bullet airplane in 1918 which had sprung steel wing spars, which crashed on its maiden flight after the wings tore themselves from the fuselage, killing the pilot. He then built a second example which also crashed on its maiden flight, again killing the pilot.[5][6]
In retirement he was still proposing improbable aeroplane designs.[7]
He died at Bellevue HospitalinManhattan, New York City, of pneumonia on April 14, 1960.[1]
Aircraft designed or developed by Christmas, most of which never left the drawing board, but were supposed to introduce various aviation patents. It is unlikely that any of them other than the Bullet ever flew. (1910: (Dr William Whitney) Christmas Aeroplane Co, Washington DC. c.1912: Durham Christmas Aeroplane Sales & Exhibition Co. 1918: Cantilever Aero Co, Copiague, NY.)[8]
