Test Pilot

The renowned WWII RAF fighter pilot who went on to set an air speed record tells his story—now with an updated chapter and new photos. Joining the RAF at the beginning of the war, young Neville Duke became a fighter pilot with the crack 92 Squadron at RAF Biggin Hill in 1941. That spring and summer, he survived the air battles over Northern France with the Biggin Hill Wing, often flying as wingman to the legendary Adolph “Sailor” Malan, Fighter Command’s top-scoring pilot at that time. Duke quickly established himself as one of the most successful pilots in North Africa, bringing his score to twenty-one by the end of the Tunisian Campaign, and then took command of 145 Spitfire Squadron in Italy. Leading this unit in the summer of 1944, he brought his score to twenty-eight. Earning numerous honors, he was recognized for his heroism, but the military was only the beginning of his life in aviation. Toward the end of the war, he became an RAF test pilot—and later a member of the RAF High Speed Flight. He would go on to a successful postwar career, playing a key role in the flight development on one of the most famous of all RAF peacetime aircraft—the Hawker Hunter—and taking the world speed record in 1953. An in-depth look at his daring exploits covering both his combat career and his postwar accomplishments, Test Pilot is now updated with an additional chapter, appendices and index, and a completely new selection of photographs. Joining the RAF at the beginning of the war, he found himself as a young fighter pilot with the crack 92 Squadron at RAF Biggin Hill, in 1941. That spring and summer he survived the air battles over Northern France with the Biggin Hill Wing, often flying as wingman to the famous and legendary "Sailor" Malan - Fighter Command's top-scoring pilot at that time.He quickly established himself as one of the most successful pilots in North Africa, winning the DFC and bar. He bought his score to twenty-one by the end of the Tunisian Campaign, was awarded the DSO, then given command of 145 Spitfire Squadron in Italy. Leading this unit in the summer of 1944 he brought his score to twenty-eight, receiving a second bar to his DFC.Towards the end of the war he became an RAF test pilot and later a member of the RAF's High Speed Flight. This was the start of a successful career as a test pilot after leaving the Service in 1948, having been awarded the AFC. Working for Hawkers, he became Chief Test Pilot and did all the major flight development on one of the most famous of all RAF peacetime aircraft - the Hawker Hunter, and with it took the world speed record in 1953.Test Pilot was first published in 1953. This new edition has an additional chapter covering Neville Duke's flying life from that date, and also has appendices and index, not included in the earlier book, together with a completely new selection of photographs. [Elib] Neville Duke is well known in aviation circles, not only as a successful fighter pilot, but also as a test pilot with the Hawker Aviation Company. Joining the RAF at the start of the war, he found himself in 1941 with 92 Squadron at RAF Biggin Hill. That spring and summer he survived the air battles over Northern France with the Biggin Hill Wing, often flying as wing man to the famous and legendary 'Sailor' Malan - Fighter Command's top-scoring pilot at that time. Towards the end of the war he became an RAF test pilot and later a member of the RAF's High Speed Flight. This was the start of a successful career as a test pilot after leaving the Service in 1948, having been awarded the AFC. Working for Hawkers, he became Chief Test Pilot and did all the major flight development on one of the most famous of all RAF peacetime aircraft - the Hawker Hunter, and with it took the world speed record in 1953. 2003 marks the 50th anniversary of this record Neville later set up his own test flying business, as well as becoming the personal pilot of Sir George Dowty. He worked for years as a freelance and highly respected test pilot, working on the Optica, Fieldmaster and Firemaster airplanes. He still flies his own plane. Neville later set up his own test flying business, as well as becoming the personal pilot of Sir George Dowty. He worked for years as a freelance and highly respected test pilot, working on the Optica, Fieldmaster and Firemaster airplanes. He still flies his own plane. HIS027100 'A lifetime of flying is contained within the covers of this book, and highly entertaining it is too!' - Flypast Magazine