... We don't seem to be told why the pilot used the downwind but 14kt tailwind is trivial. When the a/c wants to unstick it does. To me that suggests the pilot was comfortable in his seat, and relaxed...
A 14kt tailwind is most certainly not trivial, certainly not in a Hunter on a hot day! Thankfully the tailwind component on the day was somewhat less, but still significant. As to the comment about 'the a/c wants to unstick when it does', that wouldn't have worked on the 20 military types I've flown.