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Joy’s father went to Cranwell as a cadet in 1917 at the age of thirteen. He retired as a Wing Commander in 1958 at the age of 56. In his early career, he flew float planes in The Solent assisting preparations for the international Schneider Trophy, which was eventually won by England. There were several versions of the float planes which were predecessors to the famous Supermarine Spitfire – a critical fighter plane made famous in the early days of the War by preventing the invasion of England, during air bourn encounters, then referred to as ‘the Battle of Britain’. Overall, some sixteen different versions of the Spitfire were produced.

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