Neville Duke

[mgh 89]

Squadron Leader Neville Duke died recently aged 85, shortly after flying his Grumman Tiger, G-ZERO.Neville Duke was a WWII fighter pilot who flew 485 sorties and achieved 28 victories. After the war he became a test pilot with Hawker Aircraft Ltd and eventually became Chief Test Pilot. He set a World Speed Record of 728 mph in 1953 in a Hunter. He had to retire in 1956 following a crash in a Hunter which damaged his spine. This resulted in severe pain under g-forces which made it impossible for him to continue. Sadly, a couple of years ago he had to sell his medals, diaries and other memorabilia partly to pay for a hip replacement operation for his wife to avoid subjecting her to months of pain and discomfort while she waited for an operation on the NHS.

[Guest airbus2]

Very sad to hear about this, i never knew of him but by what you say he was a great man.>Sadly, a couple of years ago he had to sell his medals,>diaries and other memorabilia partly to pay for a hip>replacement operation for his wife to avoid subjecting her to>months of pain and discomfort while she waited for an>operation on the NHS.Sounds about right. And if he left any substancial amount of money behind the Government will have 40% of that.Dave