RAF commander’s tribute to hero

A “DEDICATED and talented” squadron leader who served at RAF Kinloss has died following an explosion in Afghanistan.

Anthony Downing, 34, was fatally wounded when the vehicle he was travelling in was caught in an explosion south of Kabul on 22 December.

Captain Tom Jennings, a Royal Marine, was also killed.

Sqdn Ldr Downing, known to friends as “Ant”, was an engineering officer and ran the last Nimrod Line Squadron from 2007 until 2010, before it was disbanded.

Group Captain Robbie Noel, RAF Kinloss station commander at the time, said: “An immensely dedicated, talented and passionate engineer, Ant was instrumental in maintaining and sustaining the Nimrod Force under a spotlight of intense scrutiny.”