ONE of the Royal Navy’s last “Cold War warriors” has retired after a remarkable career of 50 years with the Fleet Air Arm.

Steve Murray OBE served for 35 years in the Royal Navy, seven years in the reserves and eight years as an expert contractor in anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

The former commander has flown 35 types of aircraft, operated from at least eight aircraft carriers, seen active service in the Arabian Gulf, and commanded a helicopter flight, two squadrons and Merlin Helicopter Force.

As he retired from Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose, Mr Murray, 68, was joined by friends and family at a farewell event at the air station’s Merlin Training Facility, where he was presented with a cake and gifts including a wall clock mounted inside a helicopter tail rotor drive shaft bracket.

“I’ve really enjoyed the tactical challenge and the opportunity to pass on my knowledge to the next generation,” he said. “The old principles are still valid and effective today.”

Mr Murray, from Manchester, joined the Royal Navy aged 18 in 1975. He was selected for observer training at 750 NAS at RNAS Culdrose in 1976. He then learnt to operate Wessex helicopters before converting to Sea King and was appointed to 814 NAS the following year.

“I had a lot to learn about ASW but I got a lot better, very quickly,” he recalled. “You find your position right at the bottom of the pile and you quickly do what you’re told, listen, learn and work hard. You also find out who the talented guys are and learn from them ... In the Fleet Air Arm, you make some fantastic life-long friendships.”

Mr Murray’s career served with rescue squadron 771 NAS, 706 NAS and 737 NAS at Portland. Career highlights include a three-year exchange with the US Navy, and work as a trials officer for Sea King and Merlin helicopters at Boscombe Down, notably for the first Gulf War enhancements. Frontline service then called, with 820 and 814 squadrons.

During the war against Iraq in 2003, Mr Murray commanded the squadron embarked in the ship RFA Fort Victoria, tasked to establish the surface picture and identify every unit in the northern Arabian Gulf close to the Al Few Peninsula, as well as moving people and stores ashore and lifting injured troops to embarked medical facilities.

Mr Murray went on to become the fifth ‘Commander M’, commanding Merlin Helicopter Force. He left the navy in 2010 and was awarded an OBE for services to military aviation. He stayed on to teach the next generation of aircrew at RNAS Culdrose.

Mr Murray, who lives in Perranwell near Truro, paid tribute to the support of his family, in particular his children and late wife Pixie.

Lieutenant Commander Kevin Murgatroyd said he would always remember Mr Murray as “Tiger Boss”, his nickname as commanding officer of 814 Naval Air Squadron (NAS), The Flying Tigers. “The word ‘legend’ is often thrown around too much, but for Steve it is very apt,” he said.