Jet fighter pilot who won a DFC flying helicopters during the Indonesian Confrontation.

     Squadron Leader David Arthur Warren Todman, D.F.C., born 1930; commissioned Acting Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force, May 1953; posted to No. 1. F.T.S. Moreton-in-Marsh, later that month, he carried out Pilot training in Prentices and Harvards.

     He was posted to 211 F.T.S. to undertake jet fighter training on Meteors.   In June 1954; after further training at the Central Navigation and Control School at Shawbury he was posted for training on Vampires at No. 4 F.T.S., R.A.F. Middleton St. George, June 1955; after flight time in Hunter Jets Todman was posted as Pilot to 98 Squadron (Hunters), Jever, Germany.

     On 25Nov55 he was posted to RAF Jever which operated as a N.A.T.O. main Fighter Base.   He stayed with the squadron until 9May57), when he was posted to H.Q. 2nd T.A.F. as ADC to the CinC and was still serving in that capacity when it was re-designated R.A.F. Germany in 1959.    He returned to the UK and carried out training on Canberras before being posted to 58 (Photo Reconnaissance) Squadron (Canberras), Wyton, May 1961.

     After nine years flying jets Todman was posted to C.F.S. Ternhill for conversion to Helicopters, where he flew Sycamores and Whirlwinds.   From May 1963 he was posted to 110 Squadron (Whirlwinds), Kuala Lumpur in October 1963.         Todman was appointed Officer Commanding B Flight.   The squadron flew in support of operations against Indonesian terrorists infiltrating into Malaysia and North Borneo, involving troops and freight lifting, communications and casualty evacuation.   Flying on frequent trips to Kuching, Brunei and Labuan the squadron also provided a search and rescue service for the Singapore area.   For example on 19Dec63, 'Rescue of Fg. Off. Norsworthy' (Log Book refers) and the following day 'Search for crashed Sabre' (Ibid).   He was awarded a DFC for his services in Borneo.   in January 1964 Todman moved with the squadron to R.A.F. Seletar and continued to fly a mixture of V.I.P. Flights until 28Jan64.

     He was an Equerry to Prince Philip.   He flew DH125s for Yemen until a heart attack in 1970.   He then became a simulator instructor at Kidlington.