In 1968, an RAF pilot carried out an unauthorized flight over London to mark the Royal Air Force’s 50th anniversary, believing the government had failed to properly recognize the occasion. Flying a Hawker Hunter at low altitude, he swept past major landmarks including Parliament before dramatically passing through Tower Bridge. The pilot was Alan Pollock, and the stunt quickly became one of the most infamous acts of aerial protest in British military history. On April 5, 1968, frustrated by what he believed was the British government’s lackluster recognition of the Royal Air Force’s 50th anniversary, Pollock decided to stage his own tribute. Flying a Hawker Hunter from RAF Tangmere, he roared at low altitude over central London, circled the Palace of Westminster, and then carried out the maneuver that made the flight legendary: flying directly through Tower Bridge. The space between the bridge’s upper walkways is around 200 feet wide, but guiding a fast-moving jet through the structure above the River Thames was extraordinarily dangerous. The flight had never been authorized, London’s airspace was heavily restricted, and the spectacle shocked both officials and the public. Pollock was immediately grounded and faced disciplinary action, though he ultimately avoided court martial after being medically discharged from the RAF. Ironically, while the RAF had intended to hold formal celebrations for its anniversary, delays and budget problems had frustrated many personnel. Pollock’s rogue flight ended up drawing more public attention to the milestone than many of the official events combined.(Historic Vids)