Squadron Leader Stuart Mitchell DFC

Impressive obituary in today’s Daily Telegraph for this RAF Tanker pilot who has died too young at age 64. Former CCF RAF cadet and only ever tanker pilot to win a DFC, He won his DFC with 216 Squadron during the Kosovo air campaign. He was a volunteer pilot for 618 Squadron giving cadets glider flights in Kent. He started his flying service in 55. Squadron flying Victor tankers and then as a Captain in 57 Squadron flying tanker ops in the first Gulf war. He also trained young pilots on the Tucano. He completed his service for the MOD as a project manager working on the procurement and introduction of the Voyager transport/air refuelling aircraft. He then had a variety of jobs in civil aviation including Cathay Pacific, British Airways and Flybe then co-founding Aspire Flight Training and finally Flight Safety International at Farnborough. He was evidently happiest with a guitar in his hands, wild camping on Dartmoor or coastal walking his dogs in North Devon.

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