Winston Churchill the Pilot
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Winston Churchill the Pilot
I originally posted this in Jet Blast but on reflection thought that it may be more appropriate here.
In today's Telegraph accompanying S/L Neville Duke's obituary there is a photograph of Duke with Winston Churchill who is in full fig as a senior RAF officer (don't know what rank) with many rows of medal ribbons and the RAF pilots' brevet.
I know that as a young man he was commissioned into the Army and fought at Omdurman so I am assuming the RAF rank is honorary. But when and where did he earn his wings or are they honorary too?
In today's Telegraph accompanying S/L Neville Duke's obituary there is a photograph of Duke with Winston Churchill who is in full fig as a senior RAF officer (don't know what rank) with many rows of medal ribbons and the RAF pilots' brevet.
I know that as a young man he was commissioned into the Army and fought at Omdurman so I am assuming the RAF rank is honorary. But when and where did he earn his wings or are they honorary too?
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I always understood that Mr. Churchill was taken for a flight in a Meteor NF and that when the pilot explained about the ejector seat, he said;
"If I say 'eject, eject, eject' and you say 'pardon?' Prime Minister, you will be talking to yourself."
My hat is calling.
Roger.
"If I say 'eject, eject, eject' and you say 'pardon?' Prime Minister, you will be talking to yourself."
My hat is calling.
Roger.
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If you read his memoirs of WWII he often took the controls on long-range flights - for periods (and often to the dismay of the pilot...)
Can't be sure without checking, but I seem to remember him stating he piloted one of the PAN-AM Clippers on the way back from the USA, and also the special long-range Liberator called "Commando"
Can't be sure without checking, but I seem to remember him stating he piloted one of the PAN-AM Clippers on the way back from the USA, and also the special long-range Liberator called "Commando"
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On another occasion when flying in (I think) an Anson the pilot gave him control which he immediately lost. The pilot recovered and said "no problem sir, a fall between two stools" to which Churchill reportedly replied "more like a stall between two fools"
