Freshly posted to Germany as an RAF Harrier GR3 ground-attack pilot, Collins was recalled to the UK after the war broke out and diverted to the Fleet Air Arm for a short tour flying the Sea Harrier.

“Wolf 31, on the ground at 40”: it’s 16.40GMT, 18.40 Local. I’ve been sitting on the ejection seat of the Harrier for more than 5 hours and I’ve had, in a single mission, ...