Ken Mead flew gliders on D-Day and at Arnhem where he was wounded and captured.  After the war he qualified as an AOP pilot flying Austers.  He saw service during the Malayan Emergency when he carried out reconnaissance sorties, target marking and leaflet dropping.  He was awarded the DFM. He converted to helicopters and played a key role in the rescue of school children lost on Dartmoor in 1961.  After qualifying as a flying instructor he spent many years as a standards officer before becoming a senior examinations officer on Lynx and Gazelle helicopters.  He amassed 7,830 hours flying time, and was appointed OBE.

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