He was also totally dedicated to the BBMF, carin
g deeply about the future of the Flight. He even admitted to me once, during his handover to me as OC BBMF, that the Lancaster was the “Queen of the fleet” which had never been heard coming from him in public! He was an extremely skilful pilot and could display the Spitfire beautifully. I was always happy sitting on his wing even when beating up some airfield somewhere at just a few feet!
Blue skies Major
- Clive Rowley
From the BBMF Facebook site:
We are deeply saddened to have heard about the passing of Squadron Leader Paul Day OBE AFC.
Paul “Major” Day joined the Royal Air Force in 1961 and acquired his nickname after an exchange tour flying F4s with the USAF where his RAF rank of Squadron Leader was alien to the Americans and he substituted their equivalent of Major.
The “Major” went on to fly as a fighter pilot with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight for an unprecedented 24 years achieving over 1000 flying hours on Spitfires, and had the longest tenure in the position of OC BBMF from 1996 to 2003 before retiring in 2004 after 43 years’ service.
Blue Skies, Major. A true fighter pilot – you will be sorely missed, and your service never forgotten.
Lest We Forget.
Squadron Leader Paul Day, born 4 April 1942, died 28 September 2025
