We often get asked about the spelling of De Havilland in our articles. When we increased newsletters to a regular Friday distribution, our editor decided on a simple convention for its use.
De Havilland is used (think of the Company sign, which, as it happens, was written in capital letters), when it is referring to the company, while we use de Havilland if we are referring to the de Havilland family or any individual.
Hence, it’s a De Havilland Mosquito designed by the company founded by Geoffrey de Havilland.
Note: After we stated this in a recent newsletter, we were delighted to receive the following email:
You are totally correct.
De Havilland for the Company; and de Havilland for the family.
Something drilled into me from my first day at De Havilland Hatfield – and to which I have corrected numerous people, since.
(Before you ask: Fluid Systems on DH121, HS125, HS146, A300 B4, Nimrod, DH88 restoration, and the Miles Student noise experiments, among other lesser projects.)
Bob Sheppard
You will find plenty of conflicting instances online and in print, but at least that is how we are treating the use of spelling, here.
We hope that settles any concerns. Thank you.