Funeral for mid-air crash pilot

Flt Lt Mike Blee had served in the RAF for more than 40 years

A funeral has been held for a pilot who was killed in a mid-air collision with a glider in Oxfordshire.

Flt Lt Mike Blee, who was 62, was flying a light plane with a cadet on board when it collided with a civilian glider over Drayton near Abingdon.

Nicholas Langley-Rice, 15, from Calcot, near Reading, also died when their aircraft crashed in a field on 14 June.

The glider pilot from Hampshire parachuted to safety. An RAF investigation is under way.

Military honours

More than 300 people attended the service at the parish church in Benson for the retired wing commander from Abingdon.

He was given full military honours during the one hour service, which included a 12 gun salute and a fly past by a Grob Tutor plane.

The RAF reservist, with more than 40 years service, was at the controls of a Grob Tutor on an air experience flight from RAF Benson when it crashed.

A memorial service for Nicholas Langley-Rice was held at the Elvian School in Reading on 25 June.