William Whitney Christmas

William Whitney Christmas in 1915

William Whitney Christmas (September 1, 1865 – April 14, 1960) was an American physician, inventor, and aviation pioneer. He is best known for his controversial contributions to early aviation and his involvement in the development of the Christmas Bullet, an aircraft that has been widely criticized for its flawed design.

Early Life and Education

William Whitney Christmas was born on September 1, 1865, in Warrenton, North Carolina. He pursued a career in medicine and graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in medicine. Christmas later attended the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, where he furthered his medical education.

Medical Career

Christmas practiced medicine in various locations, including New York City and Washington, D.C.. He was known for his work in the field of surgery and made several contributions to medical literature. Despite his medical background, Christmas is more famously remembered for his ventures into aviation.

Aviation Career

William Whitney Christmas's interest in aviation began in the early 20th century. He claimed to have designed several aircraft, although his most infamous creation was the Christmas Bullet. The Bullet was an aircraft that Christmas designed and built in 1918. It was intended to be a revolutionary fighter plane for use in World War I, but it was plagued by numerous design flaws.

The Christmas Bullet

The Christmas Bullet was constructed with a unique design that included wings without any internal bracing, relying solely on the strength of the wing covering. This design choice led to catastrophic failures during flight. The first prototype crashed on its maiden flight, killing the test pilot. A second prototype met a similar fate, resulting in another fatal crash. The Bullet's failures have made it a notorious example of poor aircraft design in aviation history.

Legacy

Despite his failures in aviation, William Whitney Christmas continued to promote his ideas and inventions. He held several patents related to aviation and other fields. Christmas's legacy is a complex one, marked by both his contributions to medicine and his controversial role in early aviation.

Death

William Whitney Christmas passed away on April 14, 1960, in New York City.

See Also

• Aviation history
• List of aviation pioneers
• History of flight

External Links

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