Squadron Leader
Royal Air Force
He was deployed with the UK contingent of NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Sqn Ldr Downing died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham of wounds sustained on December 22 when his vehicle was caught in an explosion south of Kabul. He was evacuated by helicopter to the military hospital in Camp Bastion and then to the UK. Another serviceman, Capt Tom Jennings, was killed in the incident. It is understood the men were part of a Special Forces squad on a covert mission to gain intelligence on the Taliban and win over local Afghans, but the Ministry of Defence does not comment specifically on such details. Sqn Ldr Downing acted as an interpreter because he was a fluent Dari speaker.
Aged 34, Sqn Ldr Downing was from near Deal, Kent. He was an engineering officer who deployed to Afghanistan because of his language skills. He was also involved in the planning and conduct of outreach patrols. Previously he was a key member of the Mountain Rescue Team at RAF Kinloss in Scotland and a volunteer for the Samaritans. He was also the last Senior Engineering Officer of the Nimrod Line Squadron of reconnaissance aircraft before it disbanded. Known as "Ant", he was remembered as a friend, leader, outstanding athlete and an adventurous traveller whose sheer energy and enthusiasm for life knew no bounds.
Sqn Ldr Downing leaves behind his parents, Michael and Masheeda, brother, girlfriend, other relatives and friends. His family said, "Anthony was still a child when he announced that he wished to join the RAF. From a young age it was evident that he was dedicated and self motivated to achieve the goals he would set himself. At the age of 17 he joined the Deal Striders and Velo Club Deal which started a lifelong love of endurance events that culminated in completing ultra marathons and double Ironmans. He also took to distance events in swimming and cycling and had planned to complete in 2013 the Arch to Arc event despite swimming being his weakest discipline, the event requiring a cross channel dip." They said he was always kind and helpful and keen to inspire others to travel and reach for high goals.
Funeral with full military honours held on January 13, 2012 at St John the Evangelist Church, Kingsdown, Deal. The ceremony culminated in a flypast by a C130 Hercules which passed over at very low level in perfect time to the playing of the 'Last Post' by a trumpeter of the Central Band of the RAF.
*Thanks to annt for the photos
Royal Air Force
He was deployed with the UK contingent of NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Sqn Ldr Downing died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham of wounds sustained on December 22 when his vehicle was caught in an explosion south of Kabul. He was evacuated by helicopter to the military hospital in Camp Bastion and then to the UK. Another serviceman, Capt Tom Jennings, was killed in the incident. It is understood the men were part of a Special Forces squad on a covert mission to gain intelligence on the Taliban and win over local Afghans, but the Ministry of Defence does not comment specifically on such details. Sqn Ldr Downing acted as an interpreter because he was a fluent Dari speaker.
Aged 34, Sqn Ldr Downing was from near Deal, Kent. He was an engineering officer who deployed to Afghanistan because of his language skills. He was also involved in the planning and conduct of outreach patrols. Previously he was a key member of the Mountain Rescue Team at RAF Kinloss in Scotland and a volunteer for the Samaritans. He was also the last Senior Engineering Officer of the Nimrod Line Squadron of reconnaissance aircraft before it disbanded. Known as "Ant", he was remembered as a friend, leader, outstanding athlete and an adventurous traveller whose sheer energy and enthusiasm for life knew no bounds.
Sqn Ldr Downing leaves behind his parents, Michael and Masheeda, brother, girlfriend, other relatives and friends. His family said, "Anthony was still a child when he announced that he wished to join the RAF. From a young age it was evident that he was dedicated and self motivated to achieve the goals he would set himself. At the age of 17 he joined the Deal Striders and Velo Club Deal which started a lifelong love of endurance events that culminated in completing ultra marathons and double Ironmans. He also took to distance events in swimming and cycling and had planned to complete in 2013 the Arch to Arc event despite swimming being his weakest discipline, the event requiring a cross channel dip." They said he was always kind and helpful and keen to inspire others to travel and reach for high goals.
Funeral with full military honours held on January 13, 2012 at St John the Evangelist Church, Kingsdown, Deal. The ceremony culminated in a flypast by a C130 Hercules which passed over at very low level in perfect time to the playing of the 'Last Post' by a trumpeter of the Central Band of the RAF.
*Thanks to annt for the photos
Squadron Leader
Royal Air Force
He was deployed with the UK contingent of NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Sqn Ldr Downing died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham of wounds sustained on December 22 when his vehicle was caught in an explosion south of Kabul. He was evacuated by helicopter to the military hospital in Camp Bastion and then to the UK. Another serviceman, Capt Tom Jennings, was killed in the incident. It is understood the men were part of a Special Forces squad on a covert mission to gain intelligence on the Taliban and win over local Afghans, but the Ministry of Defence does not comment specifically on such details. Sqn Ldr Downing acted as an interpreter because he was a fluent Dari speaker.
Aged 34, Sqn Ldr Downing was from near Deal, Kent. He was an engineering officer who deployed to Afghanistan because of his language skills. He was also involved in the planning and conduct of outreach patrols. Previously he was a key member of the Mountain Rescue Team at RAF Kinloss in Scotland and a volunteer for the Samaritans. He was also the last Senior Engineering Officer of the Nimrod Line Squadron of reconnaissance aircraft before it disbanded. Known as "Ant", he was remembered as a friend, leader, outstanding athlete and an adventurous traveller whose sheer energy and enthusiasm for life knew no bounds.
Sqn Ldr Downing leaves behind his parents, Michael and Masheeda, brother, girlfriend, other relatives and friends. His family said, "Anthony was still a child when he announced that he wished to join the RAF. From a young age it was evident that he was dedicated and self motivated to achieve the goals he would set himself. At the age of 17 he joined the Deal Striders and Velo Club Deal which started a lifelong love of endurance events that culminated in completing ultra marathons and double Ironmans. He also took to distance events in swimming and cycling and had planned to complete in 2013 the Arch to Arc event despite swimming being his weakest discipline, the event requiring a cross channel dip." They said he was always kind and helpful and keen to inspire others to travel and reach for high goals.
Funeral with full military honours held on January 13, 2012 at St John the Evangelist Church, Kingsdown, Deal. The ceremony culminated in a flypast by a C130 Hercules which passed over at very low level in perfect time to the playing of the 'Last Post' by a trumpeter of the Central Band of the RAF.
*Thanks to annt for the photos
Royal Air Force
He was deployed with the UK contingent of NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Sqn Ldr Downing died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham of wounds sustained on December 22 when his vehicle was caught in an explosion south of Kabul. He was evacuated by helicopter to the military hospital in Camp Bastion and then to the UK. Another serviceman, Capt Tom Jennings, was killed in the incident. It is understood the men were part of a Special Forces squad on a covert mission to gain intelligence on the Taliban and win over local Afghans, but the Ministry of Defence does not comment specifically on such details. Sqn Ldr Downing acted as an interpreter because he was a fluent Dari speaker.
Aged 34, Sqn Ldr Downing was from near Deal, Kent. He was an engineering officer who deployed to Afghanistan because of his language skills. He was also involved in the planning and conduct of outreach patrols. Previously he was a key member of the Mountain Rescue Team at RAF Kinloss in Scotland and a volunteer for the Samaritans. He was also the last Senior Engineering Officer of the Nimrod Line Squadron of reconnaissance aircraft before it disbanded. Known as "Ant", he was remembered as a friend, leader, outstanding athlete and an adventurous traveller whose sheer energy and enthusiasm for life knew no bounds.
Sqn Ldr Downing leaves behind his parents, Michael and Masheeda, brother, girlfriend, other relatives and friends. His family said, "Anthony was still a child when he announced that he wished to join the RAF. From a young age it was evident that he was dedicated and self motivated to achieve the goals he would set himself. At the age of 17 he joined the Deal Striders and Velo Club Deal which started a lifelong love of endurance events that culminated in completing ultra marathons and double Ironmans. He also took to distance events in swimming and cycling and had planned to complete in 2013 the Arch to Arc event despite swimming being his weakest discipline, the event requiring a cross channel dip." They said he was always kind and helpful and keen to inspire others to travel and reach for high goals.
Funeral with full military honours held on January 13, 2012 at St John the Evangelist Church, Kingsdown, Deal. The ceremony culminated in a flypast by a C130 Hercules which passed over at very low level in perfect time to the playing of the 'Last Post' by a trumpeter of the Central Band of the RAF.
*Thanks to annt for the photos
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