Sir William Scott FarrenCBMBEFRS (3 April 1892 – 3 July 1970) was a pioneer in flight, a British aeronautical engineer, the Director of the Farnborough establishment during WW2 and the former technical director of the Manchester-based aircraft company Avro during the 1950s.
After graduating with a 1st class honours degree, Farren joined a new team being assembled at the new Farnborough Factory and became Head of Aerodynamics. In 1916 along with two scientist friends he learnt to fly. During 1917 he designed and built a flying boat, the CE1, for which he was also the test pilot in January 1918, making 27 flights from Southampton Water. Two prototypes were produced but, as the war ended, the twin engined Felixstowe Flying Boat was favoured for production.
In July 1941 he was appointed as the first Director of the Farnborough Aeronautical Establishment where he led a massive expansion of the facility in support of the war effort. He was the only Director who regularly flew, making 91 flights in 1942 and at least 95 in 1945, despite being in his 50s by then.
Farren Missionedit
In 1945 Churchill personally appointed Farren to lead a team of scientists in what was commonly known as the Farren Mission - to discover the secrets of German aeronautical advances and interview their scientists. The chief test pilot in the team was a young pilot, Captain Eric Winkle Brown, who went on to hold the world record for the number of different types of plane he flew. This mission in 1945 was the precursor to Operation Surgeon, a British post-Second World War programme to exploit German aeronautics and deny German technical skills to the Soviet Union.
Avroedit
From 1947 to 1961 (until the company's demise) he was Technical Director of Avro. He was appointed to Avro immediately after the death of its Chief Designer Roy Chadwick, which had stunned the company's workforce. During this time he played a very significant role in bringing the Vulcan project to completion, the plane entering service in 1956. He retired in August 1961.
Cometedit
In 1954, Sir William was appointed as one of three assessors to investigate the causes of three De Havilland Comet disasters. The intensive Farnborough investigation discovered that metal fatigue was the cause of the accidents, in particular originating from the corner of a window. A legacy of the team's efforts was that all future airliners were built with oval windows.
Personal lifeedit
He was awarded the MBE in 1918. He was awarded the CB in the 1943 Birthday Honours. He became an FRS in 1945. He was knighted in the 1952 Birthday Honours. He married in August 1917 (with a daughter born in August 1919, who died in 1980 aged 61); his wife died on 28 February 1963. He then married Mildred Hooke OBE, the former headmistress from 1927 to 1955 of Bradford Girls' Grammar School in October 1963. He died in 1970 aged 78; he was ill for the last five years of his life. He lived west of Cambridge. He went sailing near his house at Burnham Overy in Norfolk.
william, farren, engineer, william, scott, farren, april, 1892, july, 1970, pioneer, flight, british, aeronautical, engineer, director, farnborough, establishment, during, former, technical, director, manchester, based, aircraft, company, avro, during, 1950s, . Sir William Scott Farren CB MBE FRS 3 April 1892 3 July 1970 was a pioneer in flight a British aeronautical engineer the Director of the Farnborough establishment during WW2 and the former technical director of the Manchester based aircraft company Avro during the 1950s Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 World War 1 2 2 University of Cambridge 2 3 Air Ministry 2 4 Farren Mission 2 5 Avro 2 6 Comet 3 Personal life 4 See also 5 ReferencesEarly life editHe attended The Perse School in Cambridge then attended Trinity College Cambridge from October 1911 studying Mechanical Sciences Career editWorld War 1 edit After graduating with a 1st class honours degree Farren joined a new team being assembled at the new Farnborough Factory and became Head of Aerodynamics In 1916 along with two scientist friends he learnt to fly During 1917 he designed and built a flying boat the CE1 for which he was also the test pilot in January 1918 making 27 flights from Southampton Water Two prototypes were produced but as the war ended the twin engined Felixstowe Flying Boat was favoured for production University of Cambridge edit From 1920 to 1937 he was a lecturer in Engineering and Aeronautics at the University of Cambridge under Sir Melvill Jones being a Fellow of Trinity College Cambridge Whilst at Cambridge he sat on the Aeronautical Research Committee Air Ministry edit From 1937 to 1939 he was deputy Director of Research at the Air Ministry and from 1939 to 1940 at the Minister of Aircraft Production then from 1940 to 1941 he was Director of Technical Development in this position he helped Avro to develop the Avro Lancaster then known as the Avro 683 which was developed at the factory at Chadderton 1 The chief executive of MAP was Air Chief Marshal Sir Wilfrid Freeman with his deputy Arthur Tedder 1st Baron Tedder In July 1941 he was appointed as the first Director of the Farnborough Aeronautical Establishment where he led a massive expansion of the facility in support of the war effort He was the only Director who regularly flew making 91 flights in 1942 and at least 95 in 1945 despite being in his 50s by then Farren Mission edit In 1945 Churchill personally appointed Farren to lead a team of scientists in what was commonly known as the Farren Mission to discover the secrets of German aeronautical advances and interview their scientists The chief test pilot in the team was a young pilot Captain Eric Winkle Brown who went on to hold the world record for the number of different types of plane he flew This mission in 1945 was the precursor to Operation Surgeon a British post Second World War programme to exploit German aeronautics and deny German technical skills to the Soviet Union Avro edit From 1947 to 1961 until the company s demise he was Technical Director of Avro He was appointed to Avro immediately after the death of its Chief Designer Roy Chadwick which had stunned the company s workforce During this time he played a very significant role in bringing the Vulcan project to completion the plane entering service in 1956 He retired in August 1961 Comet edit In 1954 Sir William was appointed as one of three assessors to investigate the causes of three De Havilland Comet disasters The intensive Farnborough investigation discovered that metal fatigue was the cause of the accidents in particular originating from the corner of a window A legacy of the team s efforts was that all future airliners were built with oval windows Personal life editHe was awarded the MBE in 1918 He was awarded the CB in the 1943 Birthday Honours He became an FRS in 1945 He was knighted in the 1952 Birthday Honours He married in August 1917 with a daughter born in August 1919 who died in 1980 aged 61 his wife died on 28 February 1963 He then married Mildred Hooke OBE the former headmistress from 1927 to 1955 of Bradford Girls Grammar School in October 1963 He died in 1970 aged 78 he was ill for the last five years of his life He lived west of Cambridge He went sailing near his house at Burnham Overy in Norfolk See also editList of RAeS medal recipients The Papers of Sir William Scott Farren held at Churchill Archives CentreReferences edit Lancaster The Second World War s Greatest Bomber Business positions Preceded byRoy Chadwick Technical Director of Avro1947 August 1961 Succeeded byCompany defunct Professional and academic associations Preceded by President of the Royal Aeronautical Society1953 1954 Succeeded bySir Sydney Camm Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Farren engineer amp oldid 1144954899, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
