The RAF Association was very sad to learn that Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Stear, President of the Association from 1998 until 2002, has died at the age of 81.
Sir Michael served as a fast jet pilot, including Hunters and Harriers, during the Cold War, on tours in the Middle East and Germany. During the 1990s he held senior RAF and NATO appointments, and served as Air Officer Commanding No18 (Maritime) Group.
In 1993 he was promoted to Air Chief Marshal and became Deputy Commander-In-Chief of the Allied Forces in Central Europe. He retired from the RAF in 1996.
Sir Michael was also the RAF Commissioner on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, President of the 208 Squadron Association, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1997.
In an interview in the Association’s members magazine, Air Mail, in 1999, when asked to reflect on the Association as its President, he said: “Overall it is the breadth and depth of RAFA’s care and welfare activities which have struck me most. In parallel I have been very impressed with the energy of all those actively involved and by the dedication and effectiveness of our staff at all levels.”
Our thoughts are with Sir Michael’s family and friends at this sad time.
