One of the most historic Hawker Harriers in existence has been acquired by the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum from the Defence Academy at Shrivenham and arrived at its new home in Sussex on March 14. The machine, XV744, was the fourth production Harrier, and in May 1969 was one of two of the RAF's newly delivered V/ STOL fighters that participated in the Daily Mail sponsored Trans Atlantic Air Race, staged to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Alcock and Brown's record-breaking flight. The Harrier had only been released for RAF service the previous month, and the race provided Britain with a timely opportunity to draw the V/STOL jet to the attention of the Americans, in the hope that the Senate Armed Services Committee might consider it for the US Marine Corps.
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