Patrick Cliff had a remarkable escape when he was the sole survivor of an aircraft crash that killed fifteen of his colleagues when their aircraft was returning from a rugby match. He completed his training at Cranwell, flew fighters before converting to the helicopter. He flew in Germany, commanded a squadron in the Persian Gulf before being appointed to command the Joint Helicopter Force in Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles in 1977-7. He saw much operational service flying in the difficult and dangerous country on the border country of South Armagh. For his outstanding leadership he was appointed OBE.

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