Air Marshal Sir Roy Austen-Smith was probably the last senior RAF officer to see action in the Second World War. He flew Spitfires in the closing weeks of the war with 41 squadron, based first at Eindhoven and then at Celle in Germany. After the war he saw action in Malaya against the communist terrorists when he was awarded the DFC. His varied flying career saw him command a Canberra squadron in Cyprus and a Victor bomber squadron in Suffolk. He later commanded RAF Wattisham, home to two Lightning squadrons. He was Commandant at the RAF College Cranwell at a time of great change and later served as the Commander of British Foreses in Cyprus before becoming the Head of the British Delegation in Washington. He was a fine rugby player representing Harlequins, the RAF and the Combined Services.

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