Felixstowe Nub News delves into the life of Felixstowe born senior Royal Air Force Officer Peter Squire. who was yesterday added to Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

Born into a military family in Felixstowe on 7 October 1945, he was the son of Wing Commander Frank Squire and Margaret Pascoe Squire.

According to the publication Who's Who, he received his schooling at King's School, Bruton in Somerset. His schooling fees were paid for by the British Government as he was the son of a serving military commissioned officer.

At aged 16 he was awarded a scholarship to study at RAF College Cranwell in which he entered two years later.

Published in the London Gazette in 1966, he received a commission into the RAF with the rank of Pilot Officer.

From 1966 to 2003, he proved himself to be a great man of the air for almost forty years, flying Hunter jets in places such as Singapore and West Germany

During his career, he was the recipient of many military awards. In the 1973 Birthday Honours, he was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.

In 1979, he was awarded he Air Force Cross in the Birthday Honours. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1997 and later advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in 2001.

He fought in such conflicts as the Falklands air war in 1982.

He had narrow escapes during the conflict, braving the Argentinian anti-aircraft fire. From crash landing at Port St. Carlos, his plane taking a bullet through the cockpit, and having to eject before his plane crashed into the sea off Cape Pembroke, he proved to be proficient in overcoming adversities.

Squire's feats during the conflict were extremely great. He became the first member of the RAF to launch a laser-guided bomb in combat. His squadron was also the first to operate in a combat role from a British aircraft carrier since World War II.

After retirement, he still kept busy as he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was also the chairman of the board of trustees of the Imperial War Museum from 2003 to 2011.

He became Vice-President of the Falkland Islands Association in 2015, evident that his endeavours in the Falklands meant a great deal to him.

He passed in 2018 at his home in Gidleigh, Devon. A memorial service was held in his honour at St. Clement Danes Church in London in 1 June 2018 with the Queen being represented by Lord Craig of Radley.

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