William Helmore

Air Commodore William Helmore PhD, MS., FCS,F.R.Ae.S., CBE (1 March 1894 – 18 December 1964) was an engineer who had a varied and distinguished career in scientific research with the Air Ministry and the Ministry of Aircraft Production during the Second World War, as a broadcaster, and for two years as Member of Parliament for Watford 1943–1945.

William Helmore was educated at Blundell's School, the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. Helmore served in the First World War as a gunner and then transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, as an observer and pilot. One result of this experience was his book "Cavalry of the Air". After the war he went to Christ's College at Cambridge and obtained a first class (honours) degree in mechanical sciences.

In 1922 Helmore was granted a permanent commission in the RAF and developed his interest in scientific research in aviation. He was also involved in the development of aerial refuelling, serving as copilot and hose handler on Sir Alan Cobham's pioneering flight from Portsmouth, England to India on 22 September 1934, also inventing the electrolytic process of forming flame or explosion traps. In 1931 Helmore was awarded the Groves Prize for Aeronautical Research.

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