Tri-Service

RAF Hero Who Broke Sound Barrier Over London Dies

A highly decorated RAF Wing Commander who broke the sound barrier over London passed away on Valentine's Day at the age of 93.

Robert Jefferies was in the crew on a prototype Gloster Javelin which first exceeded the speed of sound at 767mph.

This feat was performed on 4 July 1954 and disproved media claims it could not be done in the aircraft.

His son Richard, 63, said:

"The Daily Express said the Javelin could never go supersonic, and they decided to prove them wrong, so they got up and did it in the middle of the night.

"They went up somewhere over Oxford and took a long run at it."

Described as "an air force man through and through," the RAF veteran was awarded a Military OBE in 1974.

Previously he had received the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in 1954 and 1963, and the Air Force Cross in 1957.

Richard added:

"He used to say he had been to Germany countless times but had never set foot in the place."

Most of his flying career was spent in the night fighters, including Mosquitos from RAF Coltishall.

In his heroic career the airman ejected from a mid-air collision on 24 August 1956 while flying at 10,000ft from which he was the only survivor.

Towards the end of his career, he was involved in a number of covert intelligence led projects before he retired in 1975.