Master Pilot David Stewart Morton's flying career with the RAF spanned three decades before his death at the age of 92.

Known as Jock, Mr Morton began flying with the RAF just after Dunkirk in 1940.

He served in Africa, the Far East and Palestine and flew an array of aircraft including Spitfires and Hurricanes and Meteor jets.

During the Cold War, he was involved with the Thor Missile nuclear deterrent where he was a missile control manager.

He retired from the RAF in 1968 and worked for the Sultan of Oman's air force for three years.

After giving up flying he worked at Hurn in Bournemouth and Filton at Bristol where he was involved in the development of Concorde. He retired in 1985.

Mr Morton died at Ashburton Hospital on Monday, April 8. His funeral will be at Torquay Crematorium next Monday where the service will go ahead with his coffin draped in a Union Flag. The congregation will include his family, members of the RAF Association and an association standard bearer accompanied by a bagpiper.

Mr Morton leaves three sons David, Peter and Trevor – two of whom, David and Peter, followed him with careers in the RAF – and daughter Theresa. Theresa, who lives in Dartmouth with her husband Simon, said that her father joined the RAF as a 19-year-old airframe fitter and was redeployed to flying shortly after Dunkirk in 1940.

During his 35-year career with the RAF, she said he flew in war zones in Palestine; was based for three years in Egypt; and was based in Germany with his wife Kitty and three sons for three years. Mr Morton was widowered 16 years ago.

Theresa said: 'On squadron service he flew an array of aircraft including Tempest, Spitfire, Hurricane, Typhoon, Vampire, Meteor, Venom, Hunter, Victor, Varsity, Hastings, Strikemaster, Dakota, Skyvan and Caribou.

'His roles included display pilot and flying instructor.'

She said he had gone to navigational bombing school before leaving the service and was involved with and launched the Thor missile in America on behalf of the RAF.

She added: 'On retirement from the RAF in 1968, David worked in the Sultan of Oman Air Force for a three-year spell during the war in Oman against terrorists and communists.

'He came back from Oman and hung up his headset and worked at Hurn and Filton on the Concorde project.'