The Neville or Nevill family (originally FitzMaldred) is a noble house of early medieval origin, which was a leading force in English politics in the later Middle Ages. The family became one of the two major powers in northern England and played a central role in the Wars of the Roses along with their rival, the House of Percy.

On the evening of 20 July 1951, Squadron Leader Neville Duke, chief test pilot of Hawkers, flew with other company officials in a Rapide aircraft to Boscombe Down airfield to make the first flight of the P1067 aircraft, later to be named the Hunter.For the next 18 months, WB188 played a full part in the Hunter’s flight test and development programme. In early 1953, it was converted to be the only Hunter Mk 3 by the addition of a reheated Avon RA 7R engine, a streamlined pointed nosecone, a curved windscreen and airbrakes on each side of the rear fuselage. Edward Nevill's descendants were raised to the status of Earls and then Marquesses of Abergavenny. This line continues; the present head of the family is Christopher Nevill, the 6th Marquess. His family lands have been eroded through the passage of time (whether by subdivision or inheritance tax), but the main home, at Eridge Park in Sussex, has been in the family since 1448. [35] Titles [ edit ] Title Duke found flying the P-40 less agreeable than the Spitfire, and on a familiarisation flight, crashed AM390. [2] the AVG to adopt the sameShark mouth design. When one studies the teeth design with the photo below one finds the artist was relatively consistent with his work. He returned to his squadron and achieved his final success on September 7 when he shot down two Messerschmitt Bf 109s near Rimini.The AOC instructed that Duke was to finish his third tour after completing 486 operational sorties.He had destroyed 27 enemy aircraft, and probably three more, making him the RAF's outstanding and highest-scoring fighter pilot in the Mediterranean theatre.He was 22 years old and at the end of October he returned to England after an absence of three years.

Created in the Peerage of England by writ in 1432 when George Nevill, the son of Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland was summoned to Parliament. Abeyant in 1577. Duke was born in Tonbridge, Kent, and educated at the Convent of St Mary and The Judd School in Tonbridge. One of the four houses at Judd is now named after him, following the reinstating of a house system to the school in 2008. He started working as an auctioneer and estate agent before attempting to join the Fleet Air Arm on his 18th birthday. He was rejected and joined the RAF instead as a cadet in June 1940. Duke took up freelance aviation consultancy work until 1960, when he formed Duke Aviation Limited. He was Sir George Dowty's personal pilot for most of the 1960s and 1970s. He sold the company in 1982. He also became a test pilot for Edgley Aircraft and later Brooklands Aircraft on the Edgley Optica and Brooklands Firemaster 65. Given-Wilson, Chris, The English Nobility in the Late Middle Ages: The Fourteenth-Century Political Community (London and NewHe took up freelance flying and consultancy work, then in 1960 formed Duke Aviation and also became personal pilot to Sir George Dowty.After selling his company in 1982, Duke concentrated on test flying lighter aircraft and on consultancy, forming a fruitful and enduring relationship with Brooklands Aerospace Group.These activities he combined with his other great passion, sailing. At Dunkirk in 1941 Duke, in a Spitfire, shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109, followed a few weeks later by a second.Posted to the Middle East, where he flew Tomahawks, he was shot down twice in six days.His squadron was re-equipped with the superior Kittyhawk and with eight confirmed victories he was awarded the DFC.By the time Duke had finished his third tour, completing 486 operational sorties, he had destroyed 27 enemy aircraft and probably three more, making him the RAF's outstanding and highest scoring fighter pilot in the Mediterranean theatre.He was then 22 years old. He returned to his squadron and achieved his final success on September 7 when he shot down two Messerschmitt Bf 109s near Rimini. The AOC instructed that Duke was to finish his third tour after completing 486 operational sorties. He had destroyed 27 enemy aircraft, and probably three more, making him the RAF's outstanding and highest-scoring fighter pilot in the Mediterranean theatre. He was 22 years old and at the end of October he returned to England after an absence of three years. Created in the Peerage of England by writ in 1461 when John Neville, the son of Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury was summoned to Parliament. Deprived in 1471. After a delay Neville Duke (another pilot) took off in the Hawker Hunter and diving from 40,000 feet over Salisbury Plane arrived with a very large double sonic bang.

He was a remarkable man and it seems appropriate that there should be a plaque on the house where he lived with his wife all those years ago. We should be proud that he lived here in Horsham, even if was only for a year or so.” In January 1945 Duke became a production test pilot at Hawkers and a year later was selected to attend the fourth course at the Empire Test Pilots' School where he flew a jet fighter for the first time. In June 1946 he was one of three pilots assigned to the RAF High Speed Flight. On one occasion he was flying his Meteor at its maximum speed at 120 ft when one of its two engines failed. He managed to retain control and make a safe landing. A few months later he displayed a Meteor at an air display at Prague when he was presented with the Czech Military Cross for his wartime service.Tomahawk Mk II B AK 367 probably coded C, European camouflage, September 1941 Fayid airfield, Note the Gladiator behind it on the left of the picture. The parting from Southampton, Was tragic comedy, For “Stinker” Strong was shouting out“Wave, boys, that’s my Betty” Painted a high-gloss red, WB188 set a new absolute world airspeed record of 727.63 mph in the hands of Neville Duke flying from Tangmere on 7 September 1953. 12 days later, Duke set a second world record in WB188 – 709.2 mph over a closed 100km course – this time flying from Dunsfold. A month later, WB188 was retired from active test flying.

Hawker Hunter WB188 is on display in the Museum’s Merston Hall, courtesy of the Trustees of the RAF Museum During his Second World War service Mr Duke flew Kittyhawks and Spitfires in North Africa. The 485 operational sorties he flew enabled him to become became the most successful pilot in the Mediterranean theatre of war.

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Hours before his death, Duke felt unwell while flying his aircraft with his wife. He landed safely. Gwendoline survives him. Later, a group of lads arrived from Swindon and once again suggested they move to the hill. Again, one chap had brought his camera which had only 50mm lens. So they stayed also.