Maj (Retd.) Richard Dawson cfs AAC was born in June 1968. He served 28 years in the British Army. After joining his local Regiment, 3rd Battalion, The Queens Regiment in 1988 he deployed to Northern Ireland and the Middle East, serving as both an Infantry NCO and Intelligence Operator.
Completing the Army Pilots Course in 1994 he then served as a Lynx Mk 7 (Anti-Tank) pilot with 663 Sqn, 3 Regiment AAC in the UK, Canada, Bosnia and Northern Ireland. In 2003 he graduated the Central Flying School (Helicopters) Qualified Helicopter Instructors Course at RAF Shawbury. He immediately deployed on warfighting operations in Iraq during Operation Telic 1 as the 663 Sqn AAC Qualified Helicopter Instructor (QHI), flying the Lynx Mk 7 (Anti-Tank) and Gazelle AH1 helicopters.
In 2004 Maj Dawson was selected for The Queens Commission from the ranks (Late Entry) and for the UK Apache AH64D Conversion to Type course No2 (CTT). In the 25 years since he has flown and instructed worldwide including UK, Europe, as an Exchange Officer with US Army 1-14th Avn Regiment, Fort Rucker USA, Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates.
He has instructed ab-initio pilots through to fully operational Apache AH64 front-line crews, including notable members of the British Royal Family.
During his flying career he has thus far amassed over 6000 flying hours on 5 different helicopter types. He has several awards for both military service and sporting achievements.
RM Dawson
Maj (Retd) RM Dawson cfs AAC
*Apache Rolex Explorer II No 8/48 (serial 23E06841) presented to Maj RM Dawson in person in London on 18th December 2015.
