Battle of Britain
In Autumn haze, reminiscent of conditions during the actual battle thirteen years ago, 252 jet aircraft - led by a Hurricane and a Spitfire - flew over London at 12.30 p.m. on Tuesday September 15th. On Saturday last 70 R.A.F. Stations were "At Home" to the public.
From the roof of Flight's office, over which the Battle of Britain formation passed, the directing marker flares could be seen glowing on the roof of the London County Hall. The two veteran fighters flew in line abreast as co-heroes of the battle and were followed by the jets in 11 formations. As would be expected the main body of the fly-past was made up of meteors - 120 of them - followed by Sea Hawks, Sabres (from both the R.C.A.F. and U.S.A.F.) and two formations of Canberras. The standard of formation keeping was very high. A formation of 24 Canberras also flew over Leicester and other Midland cities.
Fokker's Agreement
Important developments in the Brazilian aircraft industry are foreshadowed by an announcement from the Fokker Aircraft Company that an initial contract has been signed between the Ministerio da Aeronautica and Fokker I.A. to build under licence in Brazil 100 S-11 Instructors; 50 of the S-12 tricycle version, and 50 S-14 jet Mach-Trainers. In this connection, a new company, Fokker Industria Aeronautica S.A., was established in May this year, 50 per cent of the ownership being in the hands of the Dutch company and 50 in those of the Brazilian group.
New Hunter Record
Last Saturday S/L. Neville Duke gained for Britain another world speed record - that for the 100-km closed circuit - with a speed, subject to confirmation - of 709.2 m.p.h. He was flying the same red Hunter powered by an Avon engine with re-heat in which he recently established a world speed record. The new record is 19.082 m.p.h. faster than the previous one - still to be confirmed - of 690.118 m.p.h., held by the Brigadier-General J.S. Holtoner. The official record is held by Miss Jacqueline Cochran, who, in a Sabre F-86E0, achieved a speed of 652.55 m.p.h. It is all the more remarkable since weather conditions at the same time were far from ideal, the temperature being lower than 60 deg F with some rain, low cloud and bad light. The previous record had been set up during the heat wave in America at the beginning of this month.
It will be remembered that Sir Winston Churchill was awarded his honorary "Wings" for the manner in which he inspired the nation during the Battle of Britain. It was, therefore, singularly appropriate that after the fly-past the following message should have been sent to him by Fighter Command as he was flying in a Viking of the Queen's Flight from Dyce to London: "On this the thirteenth anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the remainder of the few salute and send greetings to the Prime Minister, their wartime colleague in arms, as he flies today through the free skies of Britain."
Source: Flight International
