Daily Mail Trans- Atlantic Air Race 1969

[SpringHeeledJack]

I remember hearing a local west London resident of the time saying how the Harrier taking off from the coal yards caused a fine coal dust cloud to fall all over a wide area covering all the washing hanging out to dry on the many streets. The hours spent hand scrubbing everything back then were for nought and the mothers of the area were on the war path!

Also I think that the RAF did a practice run the day before the race to iron out any kinks before the big day, although that probably didn't include the St Pancras coal yards ;-) The 'practice' was a complete sortie across the Atlantic with all associated tankers etc.