MIKE Blee died doing what he loved. Tonight the family of the retired airman were taking some comfort that he was at least enjoying his passion when he and a 15-year-old boy lost their lives in a mid-air collision near Drayton on Sunday.

Beverlie Blee, 62, said her husband, a distinguished airman with 40 years’ experience and a father-of-three, could not imagine a life without flying.

Holding back the tears, Mrs Blee, of St Mary’s Green, Abingdon, said: “He loved flying and he wanted everyone to love it as well.

“The cadets used to say he was the best teacher they had ever had.”

Wing Commander Blee had taken teenager Nicholas Langley-Rice on an introductory RAF flight from Benson airbase when their Grob Tutor training aircraft collided with a civilian glider. The glider pilot, from Hampshire, parachuted to safety.

Wg Cmdr Blee had retired from the RAF but restarted service flying as a Volunteer Reserve Officer on No 6 Air Experience Flight in 2005, taking hundreds of cadets on air experience flights and also teaching University Air Squadron students. He held the rank of Flight Lieutenant for this volunteer role.

His daughter Kirsty, 33, said walking into the family home when he was there was like walking into a big hug.

She said: “He was a gentleman. He was always there, he was devoted to his friends and family.

“He would go to great lengths to make sure everyone was well supported.

“He loved nothing more than getting everyone together.”

His other children, Alasdair, 35, and Fiona, 29, were yesterday continuing to comfort their mother at the family home in Abingdon.

Wg Cmdr Blee had previously survived one scare when his Nimrod place was strucking by lightning three times in one flight, the family said.

He joined the RAF in 1964, flying both Shackleton and Nimrod planes in a maritime patrol role before becoming a qualified flying instructor.

He was stationed at RAF Abingdon, with the Oxford University Air Squadron, becoming Chief Flying Instructor, and was selected to join the Central Flying School Squadron at RAF Leeming, where he oversaw the training of new RAF pilot instructors.

He moved to RAF St Mawgan and then RAF Kinloss where he served in the Falklands campaign.

There he was promoted to Squadron Leader.

In 1984 he was posted to the University of London Air Squadron in the role of Chief Flying Instructor and three years later he was awarded the RAF Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service medal.

He was hailed as an “outstanding teacher who, combining sympathetic understanding with impressive instructional techniques, consistently strived for excellence in the air”.

On promotion to Wing Commander, he was posted to RAF Wyton.

His final tour was working for Nato in Norfolk, Virginia.

Wg Cmdr Blee, who loved aerobatics, was also a display pilot in his spare time and flew the famous Spitfire G-Fire, based at Kidlington, Nimrods and piloted one of nine aircraft in the Diamond 9 Tiger Moth display team.

A funeral date has not been set yet.

Nicholas's parents paid tribute to their “engaging and gentle” son.

Nicholas, of Calcot, in Reading, attended Elvian School in Bath Road, Reading.

Julia and John Rice said: “Nicholas was known to his friends and family as Nik.

“He was very creative, single minded, charming, engaging and gentle.

“He had a lovely sense of humour and had a passion for flying and skiing.

“He also loved his music, living for his electric guitar, and regularly took piano lessons.

“When he left school he wanted to become an aeronautical engineer, he was in the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) and was very accomplished.

“He had lots of friends and got on well with everyone; he was very popular and had good morals.

“This is a great shock to us and he will be missed by everyone.”