Sir Thomas O. M. Sopwith

	SIR THOMAS O. M. SOPWITH Pioneer Aviator - Aero Engineer - Industrialist
	Born 18 January 1888, London, England. Began his aviation career as a pilot in 1910. Established the first major flight school in England. The Sopwith Aviation Company produced more than 18,000 aircraft of 16 types during the 1914-18 war, establishing him as a pioneer in mass production. The jewel of this great fleet was the famed CAMEL fighter plane esteemed for its fine performance. Reformed and expanded, his company in the post war years was renamed Hawker Engineering Company, to become the major element of British Aerospace Industry.
	Elected to the International Aerospace Hall of Fame 1979