Wally Kahn

British gliding pioneer

Walter Anselm Henry Kahn MBE (24 May 1926 - 15 March 2015) was a key figure in the development of gliding in Britain after the Second World War.[1]

Kahn attended Highgate School from 1938 until 1943. A classmate was Gerard Hoffnung.

Pilot Kahn in glider at Lasham UK

Walter (generally knows as "Wally") joined the Royal Air Force in 1944.[2] and wanted to be a pilot but it was too late in the war for this to be achieved.

After the war he became a glider pilot and administrator, and was on the council of the British Gliding Association for many years.

## Bio

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Walter Anselm Henry Kahn was born on 24 May 1926 in Mannheim to German parents of Azerbaijani Jewish ancestry. The family moved to Finchley and Kahn was educated at Highgate School. He joined the RAF to fly in February 1944 but the need for aircrew had diminished; he became a clerk and then worked in bomb disposal.

## Awards

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* Fédération Aéronautique International Gold Award with three Diamonds.
* Royal Aero Club's Silver Medal. (1995)
* British Gliding Association Gold Medal. (2014)
* Royal Air Force Air Efficiency Award
* MBE. (2011)

## Selected publications

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* -- (1998). A glider pilot bold. Alton, Hampshire: Jardine Publishers. ISBN 0953420000.

## References

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1. ^ "Wally Kahn, gliding enthusiast - obituary".
2. ^ Davison, Phil (8 May 2015). "Wally Kahn: Record-breaking glider pilot who helped turn his pursuit into a competitive sport and a popular leisure activity". Independent online. Retrieved 8 September 2016.

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