Investigation Summary
On April 5, 1968, Flight Lieutenant Alan Pollock was part of a four-aircraft formation flying from RAF Tangmere to RAF West Raynham. Immediately after takeoff, Pollock decided on his own initiative to break away from the flight to conduct an unauthorized demonstration. His primary motivation was a protest against the Ministry of Defence's decision not to hold a flypast to mark the 50th anniversary of the Royal Air Force, as well as broader dissatisfaction with defense cuts. Pollock first performed a low-altitude, high-speed pass over Dunsfold Aerodrome, the home of Hawker Siddeley. He then headed toward London, where he circled the Houses of Parliament three times as a gesture against the government and dipped his wings over the RAF Memorial on Victoria Embankment. Upon reaching Tower Bridge, he decided on impulse to fly between the upper walkways and the road bridge. The maneuver was extremely dangerous given the Hunter's wingspan and the presence of traffic. After the stunt, he proceeded to make low-level passes over several airfields, including RAF Wattisham, RAF Lakenheath, and RAF Marham, while in inverted flight at an altitude of approximately 200 feet. He then returned to West Raynham, where he was immediately arrested.
Final Conclusions
The Royal Air Force avoided a public court martial, which might have provided Pollock a platform for his political grievances. Instead, he was medically boarded and discharged from the service due to 'hypomania,' a condition the RAF claimed affected his judgment at the time of the incident.
Video Analysis
The Rogue Hunter: Inside the Daring Tower Bridge Stunt That ... — The story of RAF Flight Lieutenant Alan Pollock, who flew a Hawker Hunter jet through the span of Tower Bridge in 1968.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Systems & Failure Modes
Hawker Hunter FGA.9
A single-seat ground attack variant of the Hunter, powered by a Rolls-Royce Avon 207 turbojet engine.
Interesting Facts
- 01The gap between the road and the upper walkways of Tower Bridge is approximately 140 feet.
- 02The Hawker Hunter FGA.9 has a wingspan of 33 feet 8 inches (approx. 10 meters).
- 03Pollock was a senior flight commander in No. 1 Squadron at the time of the incident.
- 04No legal action was taken against Pollock by civil authorities, and he was discharged from the RAF for medical reasons.
- 05Flight Lieutenant Alan Pollock passed away on July 1, 2025, at the age of 89.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Medical Discharge
The pilot was removed from flight status and the service following a medical evaluation that identified psychological factors contributing to the unauthorized flight.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Medical vs. Disciplinary Discharge
There is ongoing debate regarding whether the RAF's diagnosis of 'hypomania' was a legitimate medical finding or a convenient legal maneuver to avoid the publicity of a court martial for a popular officer.
Location
ACCIDENT SITE · Coordinates taken from the wikipedia geotag.