An Angus airman honoured for a history-making role in Afghanistan has received his CBE from the Queen at Windsor Castle.
RAF Group Captain Neil Laird has done two frontline tours in the war-torn nation. In the latest, from April to September last year, he became the first senior officer to conduct combined UK/US aviation operations over a long period. His success saw him receive the CBE with just two other recipients.
Grp Cpt Laird, known as Nick, is a former Tannadice Scout and Forfar Academy pupil. He was deployed to Afghanistan as Commander Joint Aviation Group (COMJAG), with 40 aircraft of six different types and from five forces.
Gr Cpt Laird, who has also served in Iraq and Northern Ireland, was joined at the Windsor ceremony by his wife, Donna-Louise, daughter Helen and parents Ivan and Beth, who travelled from Justinhaugh, near Forfar, for the event.
His RAF career also included command of 230 Squadron at Aldergrove in Northern Ireland and during that posting he made a special return to his alma mater when he landed an RAF Puma helicopter on the academy playing fields.
He also made another visit to the school at the 2006 prize-giving.
