“Test Pilot”, a book on the life of Neville Duke.

Neville Duke was a World War 2 fighter Ace and later a Test Pilot. This book records his exciting life-story, in his own words.

Neville Duke joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) and was a Fighter pilot in World War 2. He became a Fighter Ace, after shooting down 27 enemy aircraft and was given many awards. During the War, he crashed his aircraft once and was shot down three times.

Later, he trained as a Test Pilot at the Empire Test Pilots’ School and flew with the RAF High Speed Flight. This meant flying the new jet powered aircraft, to their limits, at Boscombe Down, the airfield which is the main subject of our Museum.

Leaving the RAF, He joined the Hawker Aircraft Company, as a Test Pilot. He tested the latest jet aircraft, including the exciting Hawker Hunter fighter aircraft. In 1953, he flew a Hunter aircraft to set a new World Speed record of 727.63 mph (1071.01 km/h), off the South Coast of England.

Sadly after two more crashes, he had spine injuries and had to stop his test flying. He did return to flying, by testing lower-powered aircraft.

These were the Edgley Optica, which were built in what is now the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection building.

As well as his Test Pilot book, which was donated to the Museum in 2018, he wrote others including his “War Diaries” about his wartime life.