Squadron Leader Tony Banfield ex Officer Comanding of the BBMF, and the Lancaster pilot.
Tony joined the RAF in 1956, after tours as co-pilot and captain flying the Valiant with 49 and 543 Squadrons, he became a Qualified Flying Instructor on Gnats and Jet Provosts.
After a staff tour at HQ Training Command he flew Victor tankers at Marham as 214 Squadron as a Q.F.I. and pilot leader before returning to instructing as O.C. Standards Squadron at RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Following a year as a student at the Empire Test Pilots School in 1980 he served as a test pilot-becoming senior pilot- on B Squadron at Boscombe Down before joining the BBMF in 1985, at this time he had over 7,500 hours and had flown 38 types of aircraft.
Tony joined the RAF in 1956, after tours as co-pilot and captain flying the Valiant with 49 and 543 Squadrons, he became a Qualified Flying Instructor on Gnats and Jet Provosts.
After a staff tour at HQ Training Command he flew Victor tankers at Marham as 214 Squadron as a Q.F.I. and pilot leader before returning to instructing as O.C. Standards Squadron at RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Following a year as a student at the Empire Test Pilots School in 1980 he served as a test pilot-becoming senior pilot- on B Squadron at Boscombe Down before joining the BBMF in 1985, at this time he had over 7,500 hours and had flown 38 types of aircraft.
