AVM Freddie Hazelwood (1921 - 2007)
Air Vice-Marshal Freddie Hazlewood, who has died aged 86, began his long and varied career in the RAF as a wireless operator/air gunner flying bombing operations over Europe; he then trained as a pilot and later commanded one of the first V-bomber squadrons.

Hazlewood took command of No 90 Squadron at Honington, Suffolk, in August 1957. The squadron was equipped with the Valiant, the first of the RAF's three V-bombers, and provided Britain's strategic deterrent role. In addition to regular exercises and detachments to dispersal airfields in Britain, Hazlewood and his crew made many long-range overseas flights.

On an exercise to the Far East, Hazlewood led three Valiants in a flypast over Saigon. During the three-day visit he was asked to fly the diminutive Vietnamese Chief of Staff, General Vinh, who, once airborne in the co-pilot's seat but unable to reach the rudder pedals, asked if the aircraft could "beat up" the main street of Saigon, culminating in a low pass over the Regent's Palace.

After some hesitation, Hazlewood reluctantly agreed. On landing, the general was greeted as a national "ace" and the press praised him for flying a British V-bomber in such a daring manner. Hazlewood was glad to leave the next day in case any more requests strained the marvellous hospitality.

A few months later, on a visit to California, he and his crew were entertained to a dinner and Hazlewood found himself seated next to the glamorous, busty film actress Jayne Mansfield. He recalled later: "I cannot remember the meal but I can certainly remember Jayne Mansfield."

Hazlewood flew 1,000 hours with his own crew during his time as the CO of No 90 and he always claimed that his time in command of the squadron was the most rewarding and interesting job during the whole of his service career.

Frederick Samuel Hazlewood was born on May 13 1921 at Buckingham and educated at Kimbolton School. Although under age when war was declared, he straightaway volunteered for aircrew duties in the RAF and, with no immediate vacancies for pilots, he was "persuaded" to be a wireless operator/air gunner.

In August 1940 he was made a sergeant and joined the Wellington-equipped No 99 Squadron, which operated from an airfield on the Newmarket racecourse. He attacked the German invasion barges gathering at the Channel ports of Calais and Ostend, in addition to the railway junctions in the towns around the Ruhr.

Hazlewood went to Berlin six times as part of Churchill's reprisal raids for the bombing of London but recognised that bombing in late 1940 was "generally very inaccurate - also very frightening at times". On one occasion anti-aircraft fire badly damaged his Wellington and killed one of the crew. The survivors were forced to jettison all the guns and loose equipment as their aircraft staggered back, allowing them to scrape into an airfield in Kent on one engine.

After completing 30 operations, Hazlewood spent a year as an instructor at a bomber training unit, then at the end of 1942 was accepted for pilot training in Canada and was commissioned.

In May 1944 he joined No 244 Squadron, flying Wellingtons from the island base at Masirah off the coast of Oman, where the squadron's primary role was to seek out German U-boats in the Indian Ocean. His long association with the Wellington continued when he returned to England to join No 14 Squadron, operating from an airfield in Devon on anti-submarine patrols in the Western Approaches.

For the next 10 years Hazlewood flew with Coastal Command, initially on the Lancaster with No 210 Squadron. After completing a course at the Empire Central Flying School, where he flew 10 different types of aircraft, he instructed pilots to fly the Lancaster before spending three years at the School of Maritime Reconnaissance.

He was awarded an AFC in 1951 and a Bar to it three years later.

In September 1954 Hazlewood went to the Central Flying School (CFS), where he joined the prestigious Examining Wing to command the multi-engine squadron.

He and his instructors - known as "The Trappers" - were responsible for examining the standards of all the instructor pilots on the RAF's many squadrons and training units at home and overseas.

In addition to these tasks, the Wing was much in demand by the world's air forces, which had long recognised that CFS set the ultimate standard in flying instruction techniques. At the end of his tour, Hazlewood was awarded a Queen's Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air.

On completion of his time in command of No 90 Squadron, Hazlewood worked in the plans division of Bomber Command before promotion to group captain to fill an operational post at the RAF's headquarters in Germany. In 1965 he was given command of the large base at Lyneham where the RAF's strategic transport squadrons were based, including a Comet squadron.

On promotion to air commodore, he returned to Germany as the senior air staff officer at a time when the new generation of "fast jets" - the Phantom, Buccaneer and Harrier - were being introduced into the squadrons. He also had responsibility for operations in the British-controlled air corridor to Berlin.

In January 1970 Hazlewood returned to CFS as the Commandant, and took much pleasure in having the Red Arrows aerobatic team under his command. He also learnt to fly helicopters.

CFS had its origins in the days of military ballooning and Hazlewood, renowned for taking every opportunity to fly a wide variety of aircraft, boldly accepted an invitation to fly in a balloon that was visiting his station. He arrived clad in his flying suit and peak cap and climbed aboard the basket as it was whisked away in a strong wind.

His staff watched in dismay as the balloon climbed rapidly and disappeared over the Cotswolds, with his staff car setting off in hot pursuit. Some time later the balloon made a heavy landing in a field but Hazlewood and his pilot scrambled away unhurt.

Promoted to air vice-marshal, in December 1972 Hazlewood was appointed as the AOC No 38 Group, the RAF's tactical transport and fighter group providing direct support to the Army. His final appointment was as the commandant of the Joint Warfare Establishment at Old Sarum. He retired from the RAF in January 1977.

He was appointed OBE in 1960, CBE in 1967 and CB in 1970.

Hazlewood and his wife had bought a run-down farm house during their time at Lyneham and on his retirement on 15 January 1977, he joined the senior officer's "bricks and mortar" resettlement course in preparation for refurbishing the house, a job he completed a few years later.

He later became a registered small holder. He also became the chairman of the local branch of the Conservative Party and enjoyed many years with the Larkhill Shoot and on the golf course, where he steadily improved his low handicap.

A friendly, patriotic man who loved the West Country, he once commented: "Who wants to go abroad when we have this green and pleasant land all around us?"

Freddie Hazlewood died on 12 July 2007. Mr Hazelwood married Isabelle Hunt in 1943. They have one son.