Test Pilot John Derry

[colinevans]

I am trying to find out some background info on test pilot John Derry.
There is painfully little or no information on him on the net!
So far I have found out that he was a Test Pilot for de Havilland and was the first British pilot to break the sound barrier in 1948 flying a DH108 and that he was killed in a tragic aircrash at Farnborough in 1952 flying a DH110.
Any information or net sites on this pilot gratefully recieved.
Regards,Colin
csevans@btinternet.com

[ozzy72]

Colin I've found a couple....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/low/dat ... 981786.stm
http://www.unrealaircraft.com/wings/dh108.php

There is also a book you could try looking for;
John Derry - The story of Britain's first supersonic pilot by Annie Bullen and Brian Rivas, published by William Kimber; ISBN 0-7183-0099-8 - includes details of DH.110 development and some photos of the DH.110 (including a good cockpit shot).

Ozzy

[colinevans]

Many thanks,Ozzy for the sites - every piece of info helps.
I shall try to get the book as well
Regards,Colin

[Hagar]

One small snippet you may or may not know. John Derry invented the Derry Turn -  the jet fighter manoeuvre still used today by display pilots.

[Stormtropper]

Colin, are you by any chance doing a project?