Peter Twiss (Lionel Peter Twiss)

Peter Twiss OBE DSC and bar is a British Pilot who came to prominence as the pilot of the Fairey Delta 2, a British supersonic research plane, which broke the world speed record in 1956.

Born on 23rd July 1921, Lionel Peter Twiss was educated at Sherbourne School. As a boy, he had an interest in birds and birdwatching, and later took up bird photography. This interest in flight developed further, and in 1939 he applied to join the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. He was initially turned down, but the outbreak of WW2 intervened and he became a Naval Airman second class.

Peter Twiss initially Flew Hawker Hurricanes from catapult ships, and in 1942 flew convoy escort protecting the convoys to Malta. Serving with 807 squadron he flew Fairey Fulmars

and Supermarine Spitfires from the British carrier HMS Furious. When he was 21 he received the DSO (Distinguished Service Cross) for these operations. During "Operation Torch", the Allied landings in Morroco and Algeria in late 1942, his bravery was again recognised, and he added the bar to his DSO.

After completing his part in "Operation Torch", Peter Twiss was posted to the Naval Air Station at Ford,England to fly long-range intruder operations over Germany. By the time the war ended, he was a lieutenant-commander.

In 1944, Peter Twiss was to start his career as a Test Pilot, with the Operational Research Unit. He travelled to the United States, to eveluate test activity there, and had the chance to try his first Jet aircraft.

After the war, Peter joined Fairey Aviation as a Test Pilot, where he ws to fly many new Fairey aircraft including the Fairey Primer, Fairey Gannet, Fairey Firefly, and the Fairey Rotodyne compound-helicopter. In 1954, he started his work on the Fairey Delta 2, and flew the first Fairey Delta 2 (WG774) for its maiden flight on 6 October 1954.

On 10th March 1956 Twiss broke the World Speed Record, achieving a speed of 1,132 miles per hour (1811km/h) in level flight. This comprehensively beat the previous record of 822 miles per hour, set by a F-100 Super Sabre on 20th August 1955.

In 1959, Fairey Aviation was sold to Westland Aircraft, a British Helicopter manufacturer, bringing to an end the Test flying Career of Peter Twiss. In 1960, he joined Fairey Marine, where he was responsible for the development and sale of the companies fast day cruisers. He appeared in the Bond film "From Russia with Love" driving a Fairey Marine Speedboat, and also in the film "Sink the Bismark" where he flew a Fairey Swordfish.

Today, Peter Twiss is still flying, although now as a member of the Lasham Gliding Society.

Robert Kent