John Derry

On September 6th, 1948, John Derry became the first pilot in Britain to fly faster than sound. Exactly four years later he died tragically as his experimental prototype DH 110 broke up in the air at the Farnborough Air Show, in full view of a hundred and twenty thousand spectators. He was thirty years old.
In his short life Derry became known for his brilliance as a test pilot, and was loved and respected for his personal qualities. In this authoritative biography the authors trace his life story, and the part he played in a thrilling era of aviation. At the end of World War II John Derry was squadron leader of 182 Squadron and then joined the Central Fighter Establishment to command the Tempest Squadron as the RAF entered the jet age with the Gloster Meteor. Within six years he had become one of Britain's foremost test and demonstration pilots.
First with the Supermarine Company and then with de Havilland Derry became intensely interested in the challenge of reaching the speed of sound. The full story of his supersonic test flights is told and the results of the investigation into the fatal crash and the cause of the aeroplane's break-up are revealed.


by Annie Bullen and Brian Rivas
Published by W. Kimber 1982 1st edition. 224pp illustrated, index, appendices. 16x24 fine, including d/j.






Note:
"Long" descriptions, where shown, may have been taken from the book's dust jacket notes, and as such are relevant to the date of publication (e.g. any references to "new edition" "previously unpublished photographs" etc.) and not the present.

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