The Hawker Hunter Tower Bridge incident occurred on 5 April 1968,[1] when Flight Lieutenant Alan Pollock, a Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawker Hunter pilot, performed unauthorised low flying over several London landmarks and then flew through the span of Tower Bridge on the River Thames.

The British aircraft industry had slipped into general decline, and morale in the Royal Air Force (RAF) was low.

He circled the Houses of Parliament three times as a demonstration against Prime Minister Harold Wilson's government, whose defence cuts had impacted the RAF.

Years of fast low-level strike flying made the decision simple...[4][3]Knowing that he was likely to be stripped of his flying status as a result of this display, he proceeded to make low passes over several airfields (Wattisham, Lakenheath and Marham) in inverted flight at an altitude of about 200 feet (61 m) while returning to his base at RAF West Raynham.

[3] This avoided a court martial and the embarrassment to the government of Pollock publicising the reason for his stunt and perhaps receiving the support of the public.

Demonstrations of support for his conduct was expressed by British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), which sent him a keg of beer, and six members of the House of Commons spoke on Pollock's behalf in Parliament.