The story
Dr. C.L. Snyder experimented with tailless aircraft starting with a 1926 glider called the Dirigiplane. The aircraft used a Clark Y airfoil that could be filled with helium gas to assist with lift. Snyder formed the Monowing corporation to further develop the aircraft. The design progressed into the Arup S-1 design and the formation of Arup Manufacturing.
In 1934, Snyder's chief engineer, Raoul J. Hoffman left the company to create a similar design, the Hoffman Flying Wing. His breakaway project ended with the crash of the prototype from an onboard fire.
From Wikipedia’s article on Arup Manufacturing Corporation, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3