Alan Pollock

67 Entry (A Sqn)

Alan was famous for flying his Hunter past the Houses of Parliament before boldly flying through the closed Tower Bridge. He was protesting the failure of the government to recognise the 50th anniversary of the founding of the RAF in 1918. He had managed to fly towards the capital avoiding civilian flight routes, before coming in over Battersea and Vauxhall bridges and opening his throttle to, as quoted in the Telegraph “Wake up our MPs and remind other august figures, sitting chair-bound at their ministerial desks below, that we still had a fighting Air Force, one small unit of which was celebrating its anniversary, despite the dead hand of government policy.“  In the aftermath, he received hundreds of letters of support from the public, his fellow RAF colleagues and even a barrel of beer from the British Overseas Airways Corporation airline, the predecessor of British Airways. He was never court-martialled, but was released by the RAF on medical grounds.

Keith Piggot recalls:  “Al always a most exceptional pilot was generous with his time and had not a mean bone in his body.  His commitment to the service and just causes is witnessed by signatures on “Here’s to you Al” presented by ACM Sir Peter Squire at No.1 (Fighter) Squadron reunion. As regular wingman to Al, we formally ‘wired’ Andoya airbase in Norway to test radar-laid AA guns. Truly, no one got lower, or faster, except Andy Green in Thrust SSC…..!”

Tim Elworthy recalls: “We were both on an SCT sortie in Jet Provosts. After some “combat” Al called me into close echelon and, having flown low down several canals, we flew even lower down an ASP looking up at the tailplanes of several parked Valiants at Marham. Shortly after landing back at Cranwell we were in Wg Cdr Flying’s office. I was only a No.2  I claimed.

Years later at MOD I heard a Hunter and was told it had just flown under Tower Bridge. Of course I thought of Al and said so and then found myself in front of the Air Commodore being asked why I knew it was Pollock as if I was complicit!”

Alan later worked for various defence firms and remained a devoted member of the RAF Historical Society.