# John de Havilland (pilot)

John de Havilland (17 October 1918 – 23 August 1943) was a British test pilot.
John and his brothers, Geoffrey de Havilland Jr. and Peter, were sons of Geoffrey de Havilland, the famous designer and manufacturer. All three brothers were pilots and flew as test pilots for the de Havilland company. John had been a sergeant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) prior to the Second World War. Due to the demands for pilots in the de Havilland company, he was released from service and joined his father's firm.

## Death

During a test flight of a de Havilland Mosquito Mark VI, flying with flight test observer John H. F. Scrope, he collided in the vicinity of St Albans with another Mosquito Mark VI flown by pilot George Gibbins. Both aircraft disintegrated in the air, killing all four occupants aboard. Godfrey J. Carter was flying as an observer in Gibbins's aircraft.
His elder brother Geoffrey Jr also died in an aircraft accident three years later, whilst carrying out high-speed tests in the de Havilland DH 108 TG306 which broke up over the Thames Estuary, on 27 September 1946.

## Legacy

The John de Havilland Scholarship Fund was set up by Geoffrey de Havilland after his son's death. The award is associated with the aviation industry and its purpose is to develop the industry by recognising exceptional young people who will enter the profession.
de Havilland family tree :
| | | | | Alice Jeannette (née Saunders) 1854–1911 | Alice Jeannette (née Saunders) 1854–1911 | Alice Jeannette (née Saunders) 1854–1911 | Alice Jeannette (née Saunders) 1854–1911 | Alice Jeannette (née Saunders) 1854–1911 | Alice Jeannette (née Saunders) 1854–1911 | | | Rev. Charles de Havilland 1854-1920 | Rev. Charles de Havilland 1854-1920 | Rev. Charles de Havilland 1854-1920 | Rev. Charles de Havilland 1854-1920 | Rev. Charles de Havilland 1854-1920 | Rev. Charles de Havilland 1854-1920 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Walter de Havilland 1872-1968 | Walter de Havilland 1872-1968 | Walter de Havilland 1872-1968 | Walter de Havilland 1872-1968 | Walter de Havilland 1872-1968 | Walter de Havilland 1872-1968 | | | Lilian Fontaine (Ruse) 1886-1975 | Lilian Fontaine (Ruse) 1886-1975 | Lilian Fontaine (Ruse) 1886-1975 | Lilian Fontaine (Ruse) 1886-1975 | Lilian Fontaine (Ruse) 1886-1975 | Lilian Fontaine (Ruse) 1886-1975 |
| Ivon Molesworth Charles Jordan de Havilland 1879-1905 | Ivon Molesworth Charles Jordan de Havilland 1879-1905 | Ivon Molesworth Charles Jordan de Havilland 1879-1905 | Ivon Molesworth Charles Jordan de Havilland 1879-1905 | Ivon Molesworth Charles Jordan de Havilland 1879-1905 | Ivon Molesworth Charles Jordan de Havilland 1879-1905 | | | Louise Thomas -1949 | Louise Thomas -1949 | Louise Thomas -1949 | Louise Thomas -1949 | Louise Thomas -1949 | Louise Thomas -1949 | | | Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland 1882-1965 | Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland 1882-1965 | Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland 1882-1965 | Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland 1882-1965 | Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland 1882-1965 | Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland 1882-1965 | | | Joan Mary Frith 1900-1974 | Joan Mary Frith 1900-1974 | Joan Mary Frith 1900-1974 | Joan Mary Frith 1900-1974 | Joan Mary Frith 1900-1974 | Joan Mary Frith 1900-1974 | Hereward de Havilland 1894-1976 | Hereward de Havilland 1894-1976 | Hereward de Havilland 1894-1976 | Hereward de Havilland 1894-1976 | Hereward de Havilland 1894-1976 | Hereward de Havilland 1894-1976 | Marcus Goodrich 1897-1991 | Marcus Goodrich 1897-1991 | Marcus Goodrich 1897-1991 | Marcus Goodrich 1897-1991 | Marcus Goodrich 1897-1991 | Marcus Goodrich 1897-1991 | | | Olivia Mary de Havilland 1916-2020 | Olivia Mary de Havilland 1916-2020 | Olivia Mary de Havilland 1916-2020 | Olivia Mary de Havilland 1916-2020 | Olivia Mary de Havilland 1916-2020 | Olivia Mary de Havilland 1916-2020 | | | Pierre Galante 1909-1998 | Pierre Galante 1909-1998 | Pierre Galante 1909-1998 | Pierre Galante 1909-1998 | Pierre Galante 1909-1998 | Pierre Galante 1909-1998 | Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland 1917-2013 | Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland 1917-2013 | Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland 1917-2013 | Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland 1917-2013 | Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland 1917-2013 | Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland 1917-2013 | | | William McElroy Dozier 1908-1991 | William McElroy Dozier 1908-1991 | William McElroy Dozier 1908-1991 | William McElroy Dozier 1908-1991 | William McElroy Dozier 1908-1991 | William McElroy Dozier 1908-1991 |
| | | | | Peter Jason de Havilland 1913-1977 | Peter Jason de Havilland 1913-1977 | Peter Jason de Havilland 1913-1977 | Peter Jason de Havilland 1913-1977 | Peter Jason de Havilland 1913-1977 | Peter Jason de Havilland 1913-1977 | | | Geoffrey de Havilland Jr. 1910-1946 | Geoffrey de Havilland Jr. 1910-1946 | Geoffrey de Havilland Jr. 1910-1946 | Geoffrey de Havilland Jr. 1910-1946 | Geoffrey de Havilland Jr. 1910-1946 | Geoffrey de Havilland Jr. 1910-1946 | | | John de Havilland 1918-1943 | John de Havilland 1918-1943 | John de Havilland 1918-1943 | John de Havilland 1918-1943 | John de Havilland 1918-1943 | John de Havilland 1918-1943 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Benjamin Goodrich 1949-1991 | Benjamin Goodrich 1949-1991 | Benjamin Goodrich 1949-1991 | Benjamin Goodrich 1949-1991 | Benjamin Goodrich 1949-1991 | Benjamin Goodrich 1949-1991 | | | Gisèle Galante 1956- | Gisèle Galante 1956- | Gisèle Galante 1956- | Gisèle Galante 1956- | Gisèle Galante 1956- | Gisèle Galante 1956- | | | | | | | | | Deborah Leslie 1949- | Deborah Leslie 1949- | Deborah Leslie 1949- | Deborah Leslie 1949- | Deborah Leslie 1949- | Deborah Leslie 1949- |