Sir Frederick Handley Page's aviation career began after his dismissal from Johnson & Phillips Ltd. for unauthorized aircraft experiments. Undeterred, he founded his own company, building his first aircraft in a shed on marshland. From these humble beginnings, Handley Page became one of the 20th century's most significant aircraft manufacturers, designing models pivotal in both world wars. His creations ranged from the Handley Page Type O of the Great War to the Victor bomber of the Cold War. Despite his many achievements, his life and legacy have remained relatively unexplored-until now. Drawing on extensive correspondence preserved at the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon, this biography offers a rare glimpse into his personal and professional life. The letters reveal his interactions with aviation pioneers like Louis Bleriot, Ernst Heinkel, and Willy Messerschmitt, with one proposal even suggesting Messerschmitt as a consultant. Page's hands-on approach is evident in his correspondence, including his 1941 exploration of bomber speeds, pressurized cabins, and jet propulsion as countermeasures against enemy fighters. This biography, enriched by Page's own words, highlights his foresight, passion, and dedication, offering insights into his role as an innovator and leader during a time of great technological change and global conflict. AUTHOR: Frank Vann studied mechanical engineering at University College Nottingham in 1941, before joining A.V. Roe in Manchester as a draughtsman and then as a stressman. In 1947 he moved to Auster Aircraft where he was appointed Chief Stressman in 1950, where he met his future wife Janet, also an aeronautical engineer. In 1953 he joined de Havilland as a stress engineer. He became Chief Airworthiness Engineer at Hatfield in 1968. In 1969 he became the representative of Hawker Siddeley Aviation in Munich working on the Airbus programme. In 1979 he was appointed Chief Structural Engineer at Hatfield and then Chief Engineer. He retired in 1987 and acted as a consultant on aircraft repair problems, as well writing five books on technical subjects and a biography of Willy Messerschmitt. The text of this biography of Sir Frederick Handley Page was completed in the final year of his life. Frank died in January 2000 after a short illness. 16 b/w illustrations
