As most people are now aware the Museum’s Honorary President, Neville Duke, died on April 7th. There is to be a private funeral for family and close personal friends only in early May. In recognition of his contribution to aviation a Memorial Service is being planned, details of which we hope to give as they become available.
Neville was a giant of British Aviation. He was an outstanding WW2 fighter pilot with 28 enemy aircraft to his credit, Chief Test Pilot for Hawkers after the war and World Airspeed Record holder flying Hunter WB188 – now on permanent display in the Museum – from Tangmere to achieve a speed of 727.6 mph in 1953. His many other aviation achievements are too numerous to mention here.
Over the many years he was associated with the Museum his participation was always active and enthusiastic and he contributed much to building the Museum’s profile as well as its reputation as a major resource in military aviation history in the UK.
His joy of flying never diminished, and it is perhaps fitting that such a consummate flying professional should continue piloting his own aircraft right to the end.
