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.
1 FTS from the Linton on Ouse period.
Found in the pocket of the blue suit.
Suit from the time at Boscombe Down.
Argentine Pucara evaluation badge
Pilatus PC9 badge. Used when evaluating the PC9 against the Tucano. The RAF wanted the PC9, the government wanted the Tucano as it was built in Northern Ireland, so the Tucano won. Fast forward decades, and the RAF now flies the T-6 Texan based on the PC 9!
BBMF display suit from the time Tony was O.C. and Lancaster captain
The BBMF well used helmet.
One pair of boots, Lancaster for the use of!