Squadron Leader Neville Duke OBE DSO FRAeS AFC DFC & Two Bars
(1922-2007)
Royal Air Force Squadron Leader, Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Distinguished Flying Cross & Two Bars recipient, Air Force Cross recipient, and Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
Died aged c. 85
Wikidata WikipediaNeville Frederick Duke, DSO, OBE, DFC & Two Bars, AFC, FRAeS (11 January 1922 – 7 April 2007) was a British test pilot and fighter ace of the Second World War. He was credited with the destruction of 27 enemy aircraft. After the war, Duke was acknowledged as one of the world's foremost test pilots. In 1953, he became holder of the world air speed record when he flew a Hawker Hunter at 727.63 mph (1,171.01 km/h) over Littlehampton.
DbPedia
Commemorated on 3 plaques
In commemoration of world air speed records set up off shore opposite this point on 7 Sep 1946 and 7 Sep 1953. This commemorative stone honours two world air speed records. The first record was set in 1946 by Group Captain E. M. Donaldson, DSO, AFC flying a Gloster Meteor F4, type EE549 at an average speed of just over 616 miles per hour. The second record was set in 1953 by Squadron Leader Neville Duke, DSO, OBE, DFC and two bars, AFC, flying a Hawker Hunter MK3, type WB188 (RR Avon engine) at a speed of 727.63 miles per hour.
?, Rustington, United Kingdom where they set the world air speed record (1953)
Squadron Leader Neville Duke DSO OBE DFC** AFC 1922-2007 test pilot, world air speed record holder 1953 lived here
The Causeway, Horsham, United Kingdom where they lived
Neville Duke Fighter and Test Pilot 1922-2007 lived here
82 Hadlow Road, Tonbridge, United Kingdom where they lived