Neck vertebrae?
( Drat... I thought of British Aeroscrape myself but thought it was far too obvious so I didn't answer...!! )
Was he the bloke who broke the sound barrier by mistake in a Spitfire, or something like that?
Was he Peter (Columbo) Falk's dad?
Was he the test pilot who famously flew his full display at Farnborough just as soon as the remains of a close friend and his aircraft was swept off the runway?
Was he the bloke who flew under Tower Bridge?