Baron Sir Gerard John Regis Leo d'Erlanger,

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(1906–1962) was a merchant banker in London (partner of ''Erlanger Ltd.'' and ''Myers & Co'') and aviation enthusiast. Baron d'Erlanger was the second son of Emile Beaumont Baron d’Erlanger (1866–1939), banker and musician, and his wife Catherine, Baroness d'Erlanger, née Catherine Robert d'Aqueria de Rochegude. ''(See: Erlanger family tree).'' His daughter, Mary Caroline d'Erlanger, married

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 (Winston Churchill in the Second World War, ...

, the grandson of Prime Minister Sir

. He helped form

British Airways British Airways plc (BA) is the flag carrier of the United Kingdom. It is headquartered in London, England, near its main Airline hub, hub at Heathrow Airport. The airline is the second largest UK-based carrier, based on fleet size and pass ...

and became the chairman of the

British Overseas Airways Corporation British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) was the United Kingdom, British state-owned national airline created in 1939 by the merger of Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd. It continued operating overseas services throughout World War II ...

(BOAC). At the outset of the Second World War, he successfully lobbied for creation of the

Air Transport Auxiliary The Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) was a British civilian organisation set up at the start of the Second World War with headquarters at White Waltham Airfield in Berkshire. The ATA ferried new, repaired and damaged military aircraft between fac ...

(ATA) which he then commanded. In the

1943 New Year Honours The 1943 New Year Honours were appointments by King George VI to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the United Kingdom and British Empire. They were announced on 29 December 1942.United Kingdom (addition ...

, he was made a Commander of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

for his services to the ATA.

References

1906 births 1962 deaths Air Transport Auxiliary Commanders of the Order of the British Empire People of the British Overseas Airways Corporation English aviators English people of German-Jewish descent People educated at Eton College Knights Bachelor British accountants {{aviation-bio-stub