It is with much sadness that we report the death of Air Commodore John Bore OBE FRIN on 6 April 2024.

John trained in Canada as an RAF navigator in 1951 and was posted to the Far East on Valetta transport aircraft, followed by Canberras in East Anglia. In 1958 he joined B Sqn, A&AEE Boscombe Down, engaged in the flight testing of heavy aircraft, primarily bombers.

During 1960-61 he completed the Staff Navigator and Specialist Navigation (SpecN) Courses at the College of Air Warfare (CAW) and remained on the staff, instructing those courses; he was also engaged in planning and conducting SpecN training flights to the North Pole.

After attending Staff College in 1965, he joined MoD staff with the responsibility for airfield radars and approach aids and their flight calibration. In 1968, as a Wg Cdr he once again joined the CAW staff, overseeing all the navigation courses. Following further staff training, in 1971 he returned to A&AEE Boscombe Down as Chief Experimental Navigation Officer, overseeing trials including the likes of Loran C and Omega, as well as aircraft nav/attack systems. From 1973, he undertook a series of other senior staff appointments, being awarded the OBE in 1976. His last flying post was as Station Commander at RAF Northolt from 1979 to 1981 - the first navigator to fill that post.

John joined the Institute in 1970 and was awarded Fellowship in 1996. He was a much-respected expert in the air navigation field and a well-liked instructor. On retirement at age 50 he attended agricultural college and ran a farm in West Sussex for 20 years. 

His funeral will take place at 1100 on Thursday 25th April at the Catholic Church of St Mary and St Francis, Midhurst, followed by lunch at Mill Farm. Any of his old acquaintances would be welcome. We pass our deepest condolences to his children, Joanne, Simon and Trudy, and their families.

John Edward Bore       19 October 1932 - 6 April 2024