A much decorated Royal Naval observer from Redruth is celebrating a significant achievement and a landmark in his military aviation career ... flying for over 7,000 hours.

Lieutenant Commander Martin Ford, aged 52 and known to his colleagues as Florry, joined the Royal Navy in 1979 and began flying as an aircrewman in 1983. He has since transferred to the Officer Cadre and trained as an observer. He has spent the last three years with the Scottish based Search and Rescue Unit at HMS Gannet at Prestwick Airport in Ayr. Previous to this Florry was based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose with 771 Naval Air Squadron.

During this time he was awarded the Air Force Cross for his role in rescuing dozens of people, when flooding devastated the village of Boscastle in 2004. He has also received the Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air for a difficult rescue in the Scottish Highlands.

Florry also saw action in the Gulf War as part of HMS Gloucester’s Lynx Flight and is credited with sinking five Iraqi ships. He said: “It is an honour to achieve 7,000 hours flying with the Royal Navy and particularly within the Search and Rescue sphere. I have been lucky enough to fly with some great people.”

HMS Gannet’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Charles Fuller, said: “This is a tremendous achievement. All those hours are packed with bravery and skill, whether it was during one of his 950 rescues in the depths of a Scottish winter or in action during the Gulf War. If you are in trouble, you want to see Florry coming to rescue you.”