Family shattered by officer's death


03 September 2005 12:12

An RAF pilot, who received an MBE for his work while stationed at Coltishall, has been found dead at his home.

Colleagues today paid tribute to Group Captain Mike Seares, 39, who was married to Melanie and had three young children, Ben, eight, Edward, six, and Eleanor, four.

Full details about his death at his home in Oxfordshire on Wednesday, August 24, have not been revealed.

Gp Capt Seares joined the RAF in 1984 and enjoyed a successful career as a Jaguar pilot, a Qualified Weapons Instructor, a deputy Squadron Commander and the Officer Commanding Number 6 Squadron at RAF Coltishall.

A major landmark in his career came in 1998 when he was awarded the MBE on the Operational Honours List for operational service in the Gulf, Northern Iraq and Bosnia.

RAF Coltishall station commander, Group Captain Graham Wright, said Gp Capt Seares had worked at the Norfolk bases on and off for 17 years and was Squadron Leader from July 2001 to 2004.

He added: “Mike arrived in the late 1980s. We always worked closely together and he was an excellent pilot and squadron leader. He was very successful and certainly one of the youngest group captains in the air force.

“One of his high points was last year when the Number 6 squadron celebrated their 90th anniversary. The Jordanian Royal family were there and I know he was very proud.

“Charity and helping others was always very important to him, while he was here he initiated the raising of thousands of pounds for different causes.

“He will be truly missed. He was an absolutely excellent squadron leader who thoroughly enjoyed his work.

“All our hearts go out to the family and some of us will be attending the funeral where we are planning to have a flypast of four jaguars.”

By July 2004, Gp Capt Seares had achieved more than 3,000 hours flying Jaguar aircraft, and transferred with promotion to Headquarters Strike Command at High Wycombe, where he became Group Captain Operations and Force Development for Headquarters No 1 Group.

He then moved position internally to take up his last post, becoming Group Captain Typhoon in November 2004.

A spokesman for RAF High Wycombe described Gp Capt Seares as a very well liked and respected colleague and friend to all who knew him.

A keen sportsman Gp Capt Seares also enjoyed success at ground level as well as in the skies. He represented Great Britain as a rowing coxswain while at school and continued to enjoy rowing, cycling, golf, swimming and skiing throughout his time in the RAF.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence paid tribute to family-man Gp Capt Seares.

“Mike will be sadly missed by all his family, his service colleagues and his many friends in the Jaguar Force.”

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