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On 4 May 1953, The Duke of Edinburgh received his wings. The Duke
was awarded his pilot’s wings in a private ceremony that was held
at Buckingham Palace. Air Chief Marshall Sir William Dickson, Chief
of Air Staff, present The Prince with the award.
Flight-Lieutenant Caryl Ramsay Gordon, Philip’s flying instructor,
also was in attendance at the ceremony. He watched as the Duke
completed three solo circuits and landings at White Waltham
airfield in Berkshire.
Philip’s Harvard aircraft was complete with five stars signifying
his rank of Marshal of the Royal Air Force.
The wings were awarded by an officer that was junior in rank to the
recipient, which was a first. It was also a first that an officer
of with senior rank was given the award. Pilots become eligible
long before they obtain such an elevated rank.
Prince Philip although awarded his wings does not allow him to fly
multi-engine aircraft. Therefore, he was not permitted to fly
himself and Her Majesty on short jaunts to Balmoral or Sandringham.
Also the government at the time was not in agreement as to The Duke
flying with The Queen alone.
Philip earned his helicopter wings with the Royal Navy in 1956 and
1959 his Private Pilot’s Licence.
After accumulating 5,986 hours flying in 59 various types of
aircraft, The Duke hung up his aviator glasses in 1997.
From 1952 until 2002, he was Grand Master of the Guild of Air
Pilots and Air Navigators.
A short video of The Duke of Edinburgh taking to the sky in his
flying lesson may be seen below:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HxrwqcNsYw]
photo credit: Supermum1 via photopin
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