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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 July 2016
The Fourth Handley Page Memorial Lecture, “Were the Wrights Wrong?”, was given by Sir William Hildred, OBE, CB, MA, Honorary Companion of the Society, Director Emeritus of the International Air Transport Association, in the Society's Lecture Theatre on 19th May 1966. Opening the meeting the President, Mr. A. D. Baxter, MEng, CEng, FRAeS, reminded the audience that the Handley Page Memorial Lecture was arranged jointly by the Cranfield Society and the Royal Aeronautical Society. Both Societies had much reason to honour the name of Sir Frederick Handley Page and the arrangements by which they alternated in providing both venue and the lecturer had proved a happy one.
On this occasion the Royal Aeronautical Society was glad to welcome its friends from the Cranfield Society and other guests and visitors, particularly Lady Hildred. “HP’s” early reputation was built on the practical application of aerodynamic flow, but it had extended far and wide and to many fields beyond aerodynamics and even beyond aeronautics. He thought it was in this spirit of his wider service to mankind that they paid tribute that night. Certainly he felt that was the approach their lecturer had taken.
Sir William Hildred was well known to most people through his long and valued service to the International Air Transport Association. On completion of his studies at the University of Sheffield in 1914, he joined the Army and served for the duration of the 1914-18 War. In 1919 he had started his Civil Service career in the Treasury, becoming a Finance Officer, then Head of a Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and later a Deputy General Manager of the Exports Guarantee Department. In 1938 he had begun his long association with civil aviation as Deputy Director General of Civil Aviation at the Air Ministry, becoming Director General in 1941. In 1946 he had joined IATA as Director General, where he had done such magnificent work ever since until his retirement only a month ago. He had received many honours, including Grand Officer of the Order of Nassau, Commander of the Order of the Crown of Belgium and, not least they hoped, Honorary Companionship of the Royal Aeronautical Society.