Greatest British (post WW2) miltary pilot
Jump in and have your choice:
My nomination: Lt Cdr "Sharkey" Ward RN.
CO of 801 NAS in the Falklands campaign and one of the original converts to the Sea Harrier. Ward fully understood the capabilities of this unique aircraft. With just 8 a/c originally 801 got the best of its equipment and people through Ward's leadership and insight. 801 pilots became skilled and day and night sorties in a single seat a/c - no easy task. Wards low level tactics proved a great deterrent to the Argentine airforce, thus proving to the Argentines that its successes against F5s and F15s in exercises was no fluke but a capability to be reckoned with.