Former RAF Head & Falklands Hero Sir Peter Squire Dies Aged 72

A former head of the RAF, Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, has died at the age of 72.

The Falklands veteran, who served as Chief of the Air Staff from 2000-2003, passed away at home in Devon last week.

The son of an RAF wing commander, Squire was born on October 7, 1945, around a month after the end of the Second World War.

In 1966 he was commissioned as a 20-year-old into the Air Force, where he would serve for the next 37 years.

By the following year, he had been promoted to flying officer and was sent to fly Hunter jets with No.20 Squadron in Singapore, while he flew Harriers with No.3 Squadron in Germany from 1975.

A year after being presented with the Air Force Cross in the 1979 Birthday Honours - one of countless awards he would receive in his long career - Squire was promoted to wing commander, before being appointed Commanding Officer of No.1 (F) Squadron, flying Harriers, in 1981.

The following year he led members of this squadron in action in the Falklands campaign, where he was to survive a number of close brushes with death.

Squire transferred from the Atlantic Conveyor to HMS Hermes a few days before the former was sunk by two Exocet missiles, while on one occasion during bombing missions a bullet passed through his cockpit and temporarily distracted him.

He was also forced to perform a crash landing in June 1982 after an engine failure, while later in the year the same problem forced him to eject from his aircraft.

Four out of the 10 Harriers in his squadron were ultimately lost, three succumbing to ground fire and one after an engine failure had led to a heavy landing.

Squire entered the record books twice during the conflict. He became the first member of the RAF to launch a laser-guided bomb in combat, while his squadron was the first to operate in a combat role from a British aircraft carrier since the Second World War.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions in the Falklands.

After several further promotions, Squire was appointed Chief of the Air Staff in 2000, before being named Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the New Year Honours list the following year.

During his time in post he advised the British Government during Operation Veritas, the UK military contribution in support of US-led action in Afghanistan in 2001.

He then assisted with Operation Telic in Iraq, where the UK helped secure air superiority and carry out missions like targeting key Iraqi command and control centres.

After retiring in 2003 he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, before serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum from 2003 to 2011.

He was also Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) from 2005 to 2008 and had a keen interest in golf.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, the current Chief of the Air Staff, said:

"I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of ACM Sir Peter Squire.

"Peter was from a proud RAF family and was a distinguished and decorated Harrier pilot who flew with great bravery during the Falklands War.

"He was hugely successful, admired and respected in every appointment he held, not least as the Chief of the Air Staff from 2000 to 2003.

"He left the service an enormously important legacy and the thoughts of the whole RAF are with his family at this difficult time."

The CWGC, meanwhile, said in a statement:

"[Squire] was a hugely popular vice chairman who impressed all who met him with his good humour, commitment and humble manner. His keen and genuine interest in the Commission and the work of its staff endeared him to all.

"In post-Commission life he remained a huge supporter of our work and mission... All those at the Commission would like to extend their deepest condolences to his family."

Squire is survived by his wife Carolyn, to whom he was married for almost 50 years, along with their three sons.

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