Mike Lithgow
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Michael John "Mike" Lithgow, OBE (30 August 1920 - 22 October 1963) was a British aviator and chief test pilot for Vickers Supermarine. He became the holder of the absolute flight airspeed record in 1953 flying a Supermarine Swift.
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[edit] Early Life
Mike Lithgow was born on August 30th 1920 and and educated at Cheltenham College.
[edit] Second World War
Joined Fleet Air Arm March 1939-December 1945
Lieutenant Commander HMS Ark Royal
[edit] Test Pilot
He retired from the Navy and moved to Vickers Supermarine as Test Pilot in January 1946.
On 26 September 1953 piloting Supermarine Swift F4 WK198 broke the world absolute speed record, reaching a speed of 737.7 mph (1187 km/h).
Lithgow was pilot of the prototype BAC One-Eleven G-ASHG when on 22 October 1963 the aircraft entered a deep stall and crashed near Cricklade, Wiltshire. Lithgow and six other crew died.
[edit] References
Autobiography: Mach One. (Oct 1954). Allan Wingate Ltd. ASIN: B0000CIZSW
Editor: Vapour Trails. (1956). Allan Wingate Ltd. ASIN: B0000CJFFQ
[edit] External links
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