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Squadron Leader Paul "Pablo" Mason RAF (Rtd.) is a retired Royal Air Force pilot, who was part of the XV Squadron detachment to Bahrain as part of the RAF Tornado squadron during the Gulf War, and subsequently wrote about his experiences. Mason is known for his handlebar moustache, and his Biggles-like attitude and persona.〔''Bolton Evening News'', 3 January 1998, (Yon mon's definitely Biggles without his leather helmet )〕〔 ==RAF career== Mason joined the Royal Air Force after joining the , 165 Castle Bromwich Squadron] as a teenager. He initially trained and qualified on helicopters, before tranferring to Fighter aircraft in 16 Squadron with the Panavia Tornado.〔(121 Sqn. ATC - News - Pablo Mason )〕 His service included Northern Ireland and Hong Kong.〔()〕 Mason was among the 24 RAF Tornado crews detached to Saudi Arabia during the build-up to Operation Desert Storm, with the specific brief of knocking out Iraqi Air Force bases by bombing the runways. On Mason's first mission, an ultra-low-level daylight mission on Ar Rumaylah airfield leading a flight of four Tornados, his number two crew of John Peters and navigator John Nichol were shot down and became POWs. Mason led a total of 24 bombing sorties in Desert Storm, from ultra-low-level daylight, medium-level night bombing and, on 2 February 1991, the first-ever combined Buccaneer and Tornado attack using laser-guided bombs.〔 During the Gulf War he was often seen on television representing the RAF. Following his return from the Gulf, Mason's life was saved on 10 May 1991 when his navigator ejected the crew from his Tornado GR1, which crashed near Lubberstedt, Germany, on a training mission.〔 The RAF investigation of the incident attributed the cause of the crash to pilot mishandling of the aircraft.〔(RAF Accident report 10 May 1991 )〕 After the Gulf War, he remained in the public eye, particularly during the 1998/9 bombing of Iraq, which he publicly criticised;.〔''The People'', 20 December 1998, (Operation Desert Fox: My Heart Is With Brave Top Gun Heroes.(News) )〕〔''Birmingham Post'', 1 February 1999, (Gulf hero slams Blair over raids )〕 He was often described as a "Gulf War ace".〔''(Sun (newspaper)|The Sun )]'', 27 November 2006, (Gulf war ace is a top bum! )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Pablo Mason」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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