Wartime RAF pilot dies

Wing Commander Pat Hancock, who was flight commander in a Hurricane fighter squadron in Malta during the war, has died aged 83.

Hancock was one of the first RAF pilots to be involved in wartime combat, his squadron, No1, having been based in France with the British Expeditionary Force.

After the evacuation, No1 Squadron was heavily involved in the Battle of Britain.

Hardly had that battle been won than Hancock, in April 1941, was sent to Malta, leading a flight of seven Hurricanes off the deck of the aircraft carrier Ark Royal. He joined 185 squadron and was involved in the desperate defence of Malta, with the Hurricane fighters being both outnumbered and outperformed by the German Me109 fighters.

He was posted to Sudan in September 1941 and later to Egypt, where he was given command of a squadron in November 1942. He retired in 1958.

In 1980 he became secretary and treasurer of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association and had an important role in the unveiling of a statue to Lord Dowding, architect of victory in the Battle of Britain.