GERBY
27th Jan 2011, 10:50
In the spring / summer of 1960 or 1961, a Gloster Javelin beat up the town of Kettering. Very daring by todays standards, aerobatics right over a built up area including our school! The noise was terrific and bought people out of their houses to watch.
Our sripture teacher, (Holy Joe) a martinet and R.A.F. vet., gave up the lesson and let us open the windows and gaze in amazement.
Rumour had it that the pilot's mother lived near the school and he was bringing a bit of work home to show her. There was a service pilot from the area who flew one of the R.A.F. Spitfires (pre B.B.M.F.) so could it have been him?
I know it is a long shot, but any names, squadron numbers , air fields and even more, accurate dates.
The whole class were very impressed and I know two lads joined the R.A.F. a year or two later.
Nothing was mentioned in the local evening paper and the episode forgotten. Many years later a Tornado at regulation height did a roll over the town, and there were letters to the editor of the paper.
In the sixties a Spitfire did occasionally do a few circuits over the school area. Was it also the Javelin pilot saying "hello" to Mum.
Our sripture teacher, (Holy Joe) a martinet and R.A.F. vet., gave up the lesson and let us open the windows and gaze in amazement.
Rumour had it that the pilot's mother lived near the school and he was bringing a bit of work home to show her. There was a service pilot from the area who flew one of the R.A.F. Spitfires (pre B.B.M.F.) so could it have been him?
I know it is a long shot, but any names, squadron numbers , air fields and even more, accurate dates.
The whole class were very impressed and I know two lads joined the R.A.F. a year or two later.
Nothing was mentioned in the local evening paper and the episode forgotten. Many years later a Tornado at regulation height did a roll over the town, and there were letters to the editor of the paper.
In the sixties a Spitfire did occasionally do a few circuits over the school area. Was it also the Javelin pilot saying "hello" to Mum.