RAF Hunter Pilot Goes Rogue over London 1968

[Music] 1968 marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of the world's oldest air force the Royal Air Force formed in 1918 out of the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service RAF personnel down the generations have been intensely proud of their service and its history however 1968 was to be a difficult year for relations between the RAF and the government there was dismay and outrage when the Ministry of Defence announced that there would be no aerial displays to mark the RAF turning 50 the 60s were a bleak time for the military with defense cuts beginning in 1957 the government pursuing guided missile technology over aircraft causing the British aircraft industry to enter a decline morale in the Armed Forces was low RAF Tangmere a famous Battle of Britain fighter stationed in Sussex was visited in early April 1968 by a flight of Hawker hunter FG a ninth of number one Fighter Squadron Tangmere was to be mothballed shortly afterwards one of many bases deemed surplus to requirements as the RAF was reduced in size one of the flight commanders in number one squadron was fight left talent alan and he decided to make a rather unique protest about what was happening to the RAF in its golden anniversary year on the 5th of April 1968 Pollock took off from Tangmere in Sussex to return with the other aircraft to RAF West Raynham in Norfolk the route took the aircraft over central London shortly after taking off Pollock left his flight ignored all radio calls and dropped a very low level his first port of call was Dunsfold aerodrome where hunters were made he proceeded to beat up the airfield that his making screaming high-speed passes at very low level departing Dunsfold pollock headed into central london his first target was the houses of parliament he made three low-level passes his hunters engine making the building's windows rattle polyp was making a direct protest a Prime Minister Harold Wilson's Labour government that had come to power in 1964 there was responsible for reducing the Armed Forces and not making the RAF 50th anniversary an event pilot later said after buzzing Parliament the politicians inside knew we still had an Air Force thousands of curious onlookers watched as Pollux Hunter flew further along the embankment the road beside the River Thames and dipped his wings in salute as he passed the RAF memorial at this point decided on an even grander gesture spotting Tower Bridge he started for it unsure of his intention until the very last moment he had intended to pass over the top of the bridge on his way down the river but he spotted a red double-decker bus halfway across and made up his mind seconds later he decided to fly under the top span and that is exactly what he did his hunter flashing through the gap between the road bridge below crowded with black cabs and the red double-decker bus and the overhead walkway between the bridges two massive towers it was a highly dangerous maneuver the gap just 200 feet wide between the towers the Pollux skills as a ground attack pilot shone through and he made it unscathed after this extraordinary stunt flight lieutenant knew that he was in very hot water and would be grounded so as he made his way back to RAF West Raynham in Norfolk he beat up three more aerodrums on the way whatta sham Lakenheath and mahram performing victory rolls at just 200 feet demonstrating his extraordinary piloting skills and then finally it was over landed at West Raynham where a reception committee was waiting for him as soon as the hunters cockpit was opened all was arrested he faced a court-martial but the government was keen that the reasons were Pollux extraordinary protests not become public knowledge instead was quietly ejected from the RAF on a trumped-up medical discharge in 1982 was fully exonerated by the RAF Pollux flight through Tower Bridge and a Hawker hunter still stands as a record-breaker today his is the only jet aircraft to have done it thanks for watching please subscribe and share and also help support my channel and PayPal and patreon details in the description box below [Music]

Channel: Mark Felton Productions

Views: 1,353,078

Rating: 4.9522285 out of 5

Keywords: RAF Hawker Hunter Goes Rogue 1968, Mark Felton Productions, Hawker Hunter, Tower Bridge Incident 1968, Alan Pollock

Id: Gavx54dKYvI

Length: 4min 49sec (289 seconds)

Published: Fri Apr 05 2019

Reddit Comments

[u/RoughOyster]

“Sorry Goose, but it’s time to buzz the tower.”

[u/Dauss]

In the spirit of 'If you're gonna break the rules, you might as well really break them', the series of stunts performed by Alan Pollock were numerous as they were incredible and statement making. His goal was to remind the government that the Royal Air Force still existed, and he certainly seems to have gotten that message across.

More information here on the incident via Wikipedia

[u/GenXer1977]

I remember a similar story that someone flew a biplane under the Arc de Triomphe to protest the Air Force not being invited to the WWI victory march.

[u/Krzysztof_Khan]

"Flight lieutenant Pollock knew he was in very hot water, and would be grounded."

Was his superior Butters' Dad or something?

[u/rememberaj]

Thread that needle.

[u/tedywestsides]

Pilot license? What for?

[u/mackduck]

It’s a wonderful thing- but only because he pulled it off. Imagine had it not? It endangered more than a few clueless civilians- and not all grand gestures have a happy end

[u/RidleyDeckard]

Love the fact he then beat up (flew over at lower level) 3 other RAF air bases and did it inverted.

[u/AlDente]

Should’ve been jailed. But impressive flying.