John de Havilland 1918-1943

John de Havilland was a little under 25 years of age when he was killed 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 were made of wood, and disintegrated in the air, killing all four occupants aboard.

He was the third son of Capt. Geoffrey de Havilland, founder and technical director of the De Havilland Aircraft Co., Ltd. John de Havilland was a sergeant in the R.A.F.V.R. before
the war, but was released to become a test pilot to his father's firm. Capt. de Havilland's other sons, Geoffrey and Peter, were also test pilots to the company, Geoffrey being chief test pilot.