Hammer Blow by
David Pritchard.
Six signature edition - Notes on Neville
Duke
Neville Fredrick Duke – Squadron Leader RAF No. 61054
Born on 11 January
1922, in Tunbridge, Kent, Neville Duke
was always keen on flying and aero modelling. On leaving school in 1939 he
worked for six months for an auctioneer and estate agent whilst waiting to
reach his 18th birthday. Initially he tried to get into the Fleet Air Arm, but
was turned down, joined the RAF instead in June 1940. He was commissioned at 58
OUT, Grangemouth, in February 1941, and was then
posted to 92 Squadron in April, operating over France from Biggin Hill, flying on occasion as wingman to ‘Sailor’ Malan.
When the unit withdrew from the south in October, he was posted to
the Middle East, where he joined 112 Squadron in
November. On 30 November he was shot down by Oberfeldwebel
Otto Schulz of II/JG27, and on 5 December he was shot down again, by another
pilot of this Geschwader. His own tally was rising
fast, however, and by the end of February 1942 he had been involved in eight
confirmed and three probable victories in both the UK and North Africa. He was
awarded a DFC in March, and completed his first tour the following month. He
then served at the Fighter School at El Ballal in the
Canal Zone as an instructor until 18 November, when he rejoined 92 Squadron
which was now also in the Desert.
He became a flight commander in January 1943, was awarded a DSO in
March and by the end of his second tour in June, had added further 14 victories
to his total. Promoted Squadron Leader he went this time to 73 OUT at Abu Sueir as CFI. In March 1944 he commenced his third tour as
commanding officer of 145 Squadron in Italy, now flying
Spitfires VIIIs. With this unit he claimed five
further victories in May, receiving a second Bar to his DFC. On 7 June his
aircraft was hit by Flak and he baled out in Lake Bracciano, almost being
drowned when unable to release his parachute harness rapidly, due to wind
filling the canopy. After a long period without seeing enemy aircraft, he
obtained his final victories on 7 September
1944 to confirm his position as Mediterranean theatre top-scorer. Two
weeks later he completed his tour, having undertaken 486 sorties totaling 712 hours in three tours.
Returning to the UK in October,
he became a production test pilot with Hawkers in January 1945. After a year
there he attended the fourth course at the Empire Test Pilot’s School, Cranfield, then joining the RAF
High Speed Flight in June 1946. This was followed by service at the A&AEE
at Boscombe Down in March 1947. Having received a
Czech War Cross in 1946, he was awarded an AFC in 1948. However, he resigned
from the RAF in June 1948 joining Hawkers as a test pilot, becoming Chief Test
Pilot in 1951. At the same time he joined the RAuxAF,
commanding 615 Squadron, 1950-51. Having flown all the early Hawker jets, he
was particularly associated with testing the Hunter, and was awarded an OBE in
January 1953.
On 7 September
1953 in a special all-red Hunter (WBr88), he captured the World Air
Speed Record at 727.63 mph, following this on the 19th with the 100 kilometre
closed circuit record at 709.2 mph. In August 1955 he crash-landed a Hunter at Thorney Island after a
gun-firing problem, damaging his back. On 9 May 1956 in the Pro99 he received more severe
damage during a hard landing and was obliged to resign his position in October
1956 after several months on his back.
He received the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the
Air in 1955. He then took up freelance flying and consultancy work until 1960,
when he formed Duke Aviation Ltd., and also became personal pilot to Sir George
Dowty of the Dowty Group.
He sold Duke Aviation in 1982 to concentrate on freelance testing and
consultancy, becoming involved in this role with Brooklands
Aerospace Group in 1987, a role he continues to fulfill
at the time of writing, having been involved in the Opitca,
Fieldmaster and Firemaster
developments. His autobiography, Test Pilot, was published in 1953 (Allan
Wingate) and was recently republished (1992) by Grub Street in slightly updated
form.
Comments on this page should be emailed to Alan @ FDLC.co.uk
Last update 15th
June 2006
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