An esteemed Second World War airman and respected community champion, described as a 'true gentleman' by his friends, has died aged 95.
Glowing tributes have been paid to Stanley Dixon, a family man and Wymondham stalwart who was as known for his generous spirit as his impressive flying career.
Mr Dixon was born in South Africa but moved to Girton, in Cambridgeshire, with his family in the 1930s, and joined the Volunteer Reserve in Cambridge before the outbreak of the war, as a navigator.
As the war began, he found himself in a Bristol Blenheim squadron at Bircham Newton, near Docking. He was deployed to Scotland on the day the Germans invaded Norway and was sent to Stavanger airfield to strafe German aircraft. As his aircraft headed home, it attacked a Heinkel bomber on which it scored a 'probable' kill.
Mr Dixon spent much of the war on Coastal Command convoy duty and anti submarine patrols, providing air cover for the merchant shipping which kept Britain supplied and fed. He also served as a navigation instructor teaching shipping recognition.
In 1943, his dreams of becoming a pilot were realised and he was sent to Canada for training. But the war ended before he had returned to operations.
He was demobilised but returned to the RAF in 1947, being deployed around the globe, including Kuala Lumpur, where he was involved in dropping supplies to British forces during the Malaya Emergency.
In 1950 he was awarded the Air Force Cross, a military award for acts of bravery, while in 1960 he was presented with the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross, a third-level military decoration.
He retired in 1975 and moved to Norfolk with wife Joy the following year.
His son, John, said that Joy had been his 'rock'.
Paying tribute to his father, a grandfather-of-three, he said: 'He was first and foremost a father to all the family but also an inspiration and always offered guidance and support.'
Mr Dixon's move to Wymondham opened another chapter in his life. He spent eight years running a care home, had a role on the Wymondham Royal British Legion branch and was welfare officer in the local Royal Air Force Association branch.
David Fletcher, a former chairman of the branch, said: 'What sums up Stan was that he was the perfect gentleman – he was always willing to help and always had time for others.'
Mr Dixon was also a founding member of the Barnham Broom Golf Club. Alex Reid played golf with the great-grandfather-of-seven, who once said that flying was the 'closest to heaven that you can get'.
'He did have a claim to fame in that he had three holes in one at Barnham Broom Golf Club,' Mr Reid said.
'He had a golf buggy and I'd say that he drove it like he used to fly his planes.'
In June last year, Mr Dixon was reunited with other Second World War servicemen as they took to
the skies for Project Propeller, a scheme which matches veterans with younger pilots who fly them to
reunions, an experience
he repeated this year.
Eastern Daily Press photographer Simon Finlay partnered with Mr Dixon on both occasions and said that it was a 'privilege' to fly with the veteran.
The funeral for Mr Dixon will take place on August 25 at St Mary's Church in East Carleton.
If you would like to share your tributes to Mr Dixon, you can email them to Lauren Cope at lauren.cope@archant.co.uk
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