The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The Christmas Bullet & It's Wonderful (Redux)
Dec 16, 2025
Explore the dubious history of William Christmas, a man tangled in aviation fraud. Discover the wild schemes behind his failed aircraft and insane plans to kidnap the Kaiser. Then, dive into Frank Capra's rocky journey creating It's a Wonderful Life, from his struggles with production to the film's initial flops and eventual resurgence as a holiday classic. Uncover how this beloved tale transformed the lives of many, including Carolyn Grimes, showcasing the unseen value in ordinary people amid festive cheer.
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Phony Early Claims And Investor Losses
- Mark Chrysler recounts William Whitney Christmas's early claims of building and burning his first plane with no evidence or witnesses.
- Christmas then formed companies and solicited investor money despite scant proof of competence.
Design Choices That Made Failure Inevitable
- The Christmas Bullet broke aeronautical norms by hanging unsupported wings intended to 'flutter' at speed.
- That design choice made structural failure highly likely despite confident claims it would reach 200 mph.
Pilot's Death And Public Deception
- Mark Chrysler tells how test pilot Cuthbert Mills died when the Bullet's wings broke midflight in front of his mother.
- Christmas fabricated glowing reports and continued to sell the lie, profiting and escaping accountability.