He was DetCO in Bahrain when the Tornado's were first sent out in Aug 90 following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
I remember Day 1, sat in the crewroom of the ex-Kuwaiti AF bldgs and he walked in to the assembled Marham & Bruggen crews and announced he'd had a signal from Strike Command giving us clearance to fly at 0ft MSD. We duly did.
It was only when he was being dined out as AOC Germany at his old stn, Bruggen that he told me he'd made that up, there was no signal, we needed to do it so he told us we could. A brilliant leader, I'd honestly have followed him anywhere, and one day will again.
So sad, not old at all. RiP Sir.