Neville Duke was an exceptional airman. Here, Graham Pitchfork relates his wartime exploits, while Ken Ellis examines his test piloting career
One of Britain’s most charismatic and respected airmen was Neville Duke.
During the 1950s his exploits at the annual Farnborough airshow made him a household name and a hero to thousands of air-minded boys – not least the authors. Before this, he had already established himself as one of the RAF’s greatest fighter pilots.
Born in January 1922, he spent his early life in Kent. By the age of seven he’d become fascinated by flying, saving his pocket money to make models and for joyrides, including a number with Sir Alan Cobham’s ‘circus’.
In the summer of 1939 Duke applied to join the Fleet Air Arm but became frustrated at the delay in processing his application, so he joined the RAF in June 1940, just six months after his 18th birthday.
He started his flying tuition on Tiger Moths at White Waltham, Berkshire, going solo after 8½ hours’ dual instruction. He continued his training at Hatfield, Hertfordshire, with 1 Elementary Flying Training School before moving to 5 Flying Training School at Sealand, North Wales, where he was introduced to the Miles Master advanced …
