Obituary David Anthony Hamilton
Wing Commander David Anthony Hamilton was born on December 23rd, 1950, in Ibadan, Nigeria where his father John Hamilton was a District Officer. Due to the lack of full-time education at the time. David at the age of rising 5 was sent to High Trees boarding school In Surrey, followed by Sherborne Prep School before gaining an Exhibition to Blundell’s. He then attended Loughborough University to study Aeronautical Engineering.
David joined the RAF in 1972, while a student at Loughborough. He became a member of the East Midlands University Air Squadron, and learned to fly the Chipmunk whilst a student he won the Ace Trophy for the most promising pilot. After graduating, he undertook Basic Officer and Flying Training at RAF Cranwell. On completion he was awarded The Hicks Memorial Prize for the highest-flying ground school results.
His career then took him to RAF Valley, Brawdy, Coningsby, Waddington, Scampton, Marham, Upavon, High Wycombe RAF Mount Pleasant in The Falkland Islands and Brize Norton. He qualified on 15 types of aircraft, including the Hercules, Tristar, Vulcan, Victor and VC10 – his all-time favourite.
There were many highlights and achievements during David’s years in the RAF. While flying the Vulcan with 44 Squadron at RAF Waddington, his crew won the coveted Blue Steel and Bristol Siddeley Trophies for 'Best Crew in Bombing and Navigation'.
In 2002, he was awarded the Master Air Pilot Award.
David served with 101 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton from 1986 to 2001, where he was a renowned expert and instructor in air-to-air refuelling. During the Gulf War, he took part in Operation Desert Storm, providing crucial air-to-air refuelling support. For this, he was awarded the Gulf War Medal.
In 2001, David left the RAF and re-joined as a full-time reservist, exchanging the Wing Commander rank for that of Flight Lieutenant. In his words, he “finished by going back to where he started.”
It was in December 2010 that David finally hung up his flying boots, after a symbolic farewell flight on the VC10. It was 24 years to the day after his very first flight in a VC10, and with the very same crew. Waiting for him on the runway was a crowd of well-wishers from 101 Squadron, along with several bottles of champagne.
During his retirement, David remained a committed supporter of the Royal British Legion, raising an outstanding £27,500 for the charity.
David is survived by his wife, Pat, four children and nine grandchildren, and is greatly missed.