‘Great man’ who did aviation museum proud remembered
Tributes paid to Tangmere Military Aviation Museum man
Tributes have been paid to the chairman of Tangmere Military Aviation Museum who died on Christmas Eve.
Group Captain David Baron OBE was described as a ‘great man’ who did the museum proud.
David’s flying career began when he joined the RAF as a young officer cadet in 1960.
After being commissioned as a pilot officer he underwent pilot training on the pistonengined Provost T1 and the Vampire T11 jet trainer.
Following operational conversion training on the Hawker Hunter jet fighter he commenced his first operational tour in Aden, seeing action during the Radfan campaign with No 8 Squadron.
Returning to England in 1965 he completed the Central Flying School Course, following which he was posted to RAF Valley, Anglesey, for a three year tour instructing on the Folland Gnat jet trainer and later the Hunter.
In 1968/69 David underwent the first RAF conversion course on to the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR 2 at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. He then spent the next three years as a pilot and instructor in No 6, the RAF’s first Phantom equipped squadron.
In 2000, David and his wife Vivienne moved to the Chichester area and he was soon involved with the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, taking on responsibility for the aircraft collection.
In 2003 he became a trustee of the museum and in 2006, its chairman. During his 14 year stewardship the museum went from strength to strength to become one of the most successful aviation museums in the country.
Mike Bennett, who works at the museum, said: “We all knew him very well and he was just a genuine, stand-up guy.
“He was a great man and he did the museum proud and it was obviously in his blood having been a pilot.
“He will be greatly missed.” A museum spokesman added: “He will be greatly missed by the museum’s trustees and the all voluntary workforce at Tangmere.”
The funeral was held last Wednesday and a memorial service will be organised for a later date.
For all the latest news from across the area, visit our website at www. westsussextoday.co.uk