Squadron Leader Mark 'Disco' Discombe AFC ends his time as Officer Commanding the BBMF this October.

Mark has been on the Flight since 2014 and became Officer Commanding in 2018.

He is one of only two aircrew permanently serving the Flight. The other pilots navigators, air engineers and air loadmasters come from seven different stations (Brize Norton, Coningsby, Marham, Cranwell, Boscombe Down, Northolt and Waddington) flying five different types of aircraft including the A400 Atlas, Hercules, C17, Sentry and Typhoon as their primary role.

In October 2016, he was awarded the Air Force Cross (AFC) for his actions on July 25, 2015 when he managed to return a damaged Hurricane back to Conningsby after an oil leak event.

With the leaking fluid staining the fuselage and windscreen, he executed a faultless forced landing on the runway and brought the aircraft to a safe halt. At the time, 'Disco' had only 30 hours on type.

Commenting on his departure, Mark quipped: "I'm off to a ground appointment next, so time to catch up on sleep".

To read more about how the BBMF came to be, read here