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Wing Commander, 007 Pilot Ken Wallis, 97, Dies »

British pilot Ken Wallis took his first solo flight in 1937, flew as a stunt pilot and doubled for Sean Connery in 1967, and passed away Sunday at the age of 97, after "a long and successful life doing what he wanted," his daughter told BBC.co.uk. Wallis flew Wellington bombers for his country in World War II, surviving a bomb bay explosion, a midair with a barrage balloon, and once returning with 115 holes in his aircraft. He spent 20 years in weapons research for the RAF and later applied his skills for the movie industry. Wallis flew roughly 44 hours and 75 flights to capture the seven-and-one-half minute gyrocopter sequence shown in the James Bond movie, You Only Live Twice. Video after the jump. More

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