Squadron Leader Neville Frederick Duke DSO, OBE, DFC & Two Bars, AFC, FRAeS was a British test pilot and fighter ace of the Second World War. He was the most successful Western Allied ace in the Mediterranean Theatre, and was credited with the destruction of 27 enemy aircraft. After the end of the war, Duke was acknowledged as one of the world's foremost test pilots. In 1953, he became holder of the world air speed record when he flew a Hawker Hunter at 727.63 mph over Littlehampton. He became a well-known celebrity in the Coronation year of Queen Elizabeth II, alongside footballer Stanley Matthews, actor Dirk Bogarde and mountaineer Edmund Hillary. 

January 11th, 1922 in Tonbridge  /  Died:   Apr 2007 - at age 84