Wing Commander Cobb joined the RAF when he was 18 and trained as a pilot. Most of his operational flying was on the Wellington, initially on bombing sorties before carrying out many more on night attacks against coastal shipping, for which he was awarded the DSO and the DFC. After the war he became a test pilot, initially at Farnborough and then at Boscombe Down. He was awarded the AFC . During a tour in Malaya he played a significant role in the creation of the Malayan Air Force and he was decorated by the Malayan Government. After retiring he continued to fly, mainly on crop spraying activities.
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A former Cranwell cadet, Sir Peter Le Cheminant had considerable wartime experience as a medium bomber pilot in North Africa and Italy earning a DFC. He added a Bar to his award during the Korean War when he commanded a Sunderland squadron. As a group captain he commanded RAF Geilenkirchen one of four RAF strike airfields in Germany before he moved to MoD to fill the first of a number of key staff and command posts, which included international appointments with CENTO and NATO. In retirement he became the first Guernseyman to be appointed Lieutenant Governor of the island. He died aged 97.
AVM Deryck Stapleton has died aged 100. He began his flying career in bi-plane bombers and towards the end of his service he took a Vulcan bomber on a round-the-world trip. He was awarded the DFC whilst serving with No. 14 Squadron in the Middle East and in Eritrea where he flew the Wellesley and the Blenheim. He commanded a Bomber Wing in the Balkan Air Force. In the post war RAF he commanded jet fighter bases in the UK and in Germany. He was appointed AOC No. 1 (Bomber) Group when his Vulcan bombers carried the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent.
Owen Hardy was a New Zealand fighter pilot who shot down a number of enemy aircraft in North Africa and North West Europe whilst flying Spitfires. He was twice awarded the DFC. He remained in the RAF post war and continued to fly fighters and whilst commanding a new Vampire jet squadron in Germany, he formed one of the RAF’s first jet aerobatic teams.
A First Day Cover with six specially commissioned stamps to commemorate the RAF Centenary was issued by the Royal Mail on 20 March 2018 together with a card insert. In addition a special pack of Centenary stamps and four new stamps depicting the Red Arrows was issued. Also produced is a booklet which includes a series of short narratives highlighting major milestones in the RAF’s 100 year history. I was honoured to be invited by the Royal Mail to produce all the written material for the issue.
John Digman trained as a navigator in Canada before joining No. 44 Squadron equipped with Lancasters. He completed a full tour of operations attacking targets in Germany, Norway and Poland. He was awarded the DFC. After the war he became a specialist navigator before becoming the wing commander operations on a Vulcan base masterminding the operations during a move of the three squadrons from Coningsby to Cottesmore. He was appointed OBE. He died aged 94.
ACM Sir Peter Squire, who has died aged 72, commanded the RAF Harrier squadron that fought in the Falkland Islands in 1982. After a succession of senior appointments he became the RAF’s Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) in 2000.
Margot Duhalde, who has died aged 97, was the first female pilot in Chile starting her flying lessons when she was 16-years old. Of French-Basque ancestry, when General de Gaulle issued his call to the Free French she immediately volunteered and sailed for England. The French did not require female pilots so she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA). She served for four years, delivered over 900 aircraft including fighters and twin-engined aircraft. She later flew with the French Air Force in Morocco before returning to Chile where she continued flying until she was 83.
Peter Hearne flew Spitfires and Mustangs during the Second World War and was credited with destroying at least five enemy aircraft. He commanded No. 19 Squadron when it was sent to Peterhead in north Scotland where it provided an escort for the Mosquito and Beaufighter Strike Wings attacking enemy shipping off the Norwegian coast. He was awarded the DFC. Before leaving the RAF in 1962 he commanded a Thor inter-continental ballistic missile squadron.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Douglas Lowe was a wartime bomber pilot who later had a significant influence on RAF operational capabilities and procurement during a series of senior appointments. He flew Stirling bombers and was awarded the DFC before becoming a bombing instructor. He commanded a Valiant squadron, served as an operations officer at the HQ of USAF’s Strategic Air Commend, was SASO in the Near East Air Force and spent two years as AOC No. 18 (Maritime) Group. He completed three tours in the operational requirements directorate in MOD before becoming Controller Aircraft and Chief of Defence Procurement.
GRAHAM PITCHFORK 