John Derry

On 6 September 1948, John Derry became the first pilot in Britain to fly faster than the speed of sound. Exactly four years later he died tragically as his experimental prototype DH110 jet broke up in the air at the Farnborough Air Show, in full view of 120,000 spectators. In this authoritative biography, now available in paperback, the authors trace Derry’s life story and the part he played in a thrilling era of aviation. They reveal how he became known for his brilliance as a test pilot, but was also loved and respected for his personal qualities.