… there was a decent hotel nearby

Group Captain Bill Pixton

William Pixton joined the Air Force as an aircraft electronics technician. An officer suggested that he should apply for flying training. After gaining his pilot’s wings he was posted to Jaguars with No. 14 Squadron in Germany. William later commanded No. 41 Squadron flying Jaguars during the 1991 Gulf War, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his leadership and tenacity in carrying out attacks against fuel and ammunition dumps as well as artillery and missile sites.