Remarks: Obituary Note added: 2017-08-29 |
email from Sqn Ldr Ian Steele Loughran:'It is my sad duty to inform you that Gp Capt Wilbur Desmond McNeill passed away on the 7th August 20ÂÂ17.'He is mourned by his wife Jean, and the family. They want the funeral to be a private, solemn occasiÂÂon for members of the family alone'.May his soul rest in peace. |
Remarks: by Air Marshal Raghavendran Note added: 2017-08-29 |
In my entire career of 41 years in the IAF, THE HIGHEST ENCOMIUM ONE COULD PAY TO A GOOD FLIER WAS " HE FLEW LIKE MCNEIL!". I have flow with many hot rods of the IAF, including Mcneil. He was my instructor on spitfires and later flew a few sorties with him on Hunters. His smoothness of flying, accuracy in flying and his ai to ground and a air to air gunnery were bywords a nd beyond the average mortal to emulate. A few did in small individual areas but never in the whole spectrum like he did. And he did it all with a humbleness and inchalance that was most disarming. He was asked to be a PAI instructor in the RAF after he completed his course there. Nobody could a curved approach like him in a spitfire, leveling off full use before a perfect three point landing. |