Target for today

Born on the Scottish island of Islay, the late John Edgar McKechnie Horne spent most of his early years in Edinburgh, leaving the city’s university part-way through a forestry course to join the Fleet Air Arm in 1942. He learned to fly in the USA and Canada before joining 771 Squadron in Orkney early in 1944. Horne passed away in 2015, but before his death he wrote at length and in detail about his naval flying experiences on the ‘home front’, not least acting as an aerial target

Become a Premium Member to Read More

This is a premium article and requires an active Key.Aero subscription to view.

I’m an existing member, sign me in!

I don’t have a subscription…

Enjoy the following subscriber only benefits:

  • Unlimited access to all KeyAero content
  • Exclusive in-depth articles and analysis, videos, quizzes added daily
  • A fully searchable archive – boasting hundreds of thousands of pieces of quality aviation content
  • Access to read all our leading aviation magazines online - meaning you can enjoy the likes of FlyPast, Aeroplane Monthly, AirForces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, Aviation News, Airports of the World, PC Pilot and Airliner World - as soon as they leave the editor’s desk.
  • Access on any device- anywhere, anytime
  • Choose from our offers below