A FIGHTER pilot who took part in the first British bombing raids on Baghdad has returned to his Cross Hills family safe and sound for Easter.

Squadron leader Andy Myers narrowly escaped death when a surface to air missile, undetected by radar, hurtled towards him and his navigator.

The near miss came as they flew their Tornado into the very heart of the action on the first day of the coalition's "shock and awe" air raids over Iraq.

Sqdr Ldr Myers took quick evasive action to bank the plane - to tip it to one side and turn it - saving himself, wing commander Dave Robertson and the mission.

The missile shot past their plane, which carried Britain's first air-launched £1 million cruise missile, the Storm Shadow.

The Iraqis had turned off a radar-locking system which creates a signal that other coalition fighter jets can then lock into and destroy with their own missiles.

It was only Sqdr Ldr Myers' quick thinking and skill which saved them from certain death.

After a quick check that everything was still working, the pair continued their mission to fire the missiles, which carry 1,000 pound war heads capable of smashing through five feet of concrete, at bunkers outside Baghdad.

Sqdr Ldr Myers belongs to the famous 617 "Dambuster" squadron, which attacked the Eder and Mohne dams in May 1943.

And his mission - which was the first time the new long-range cruise missiles had been used in operations - took place on the anniversary of the squadron's formation 60 years before.

The Queen is expected to make a formal visit to the squadron to celebrate the anniversary and Sqdr Ldr Myers is hoping to take part in those celebrations.

The 35-year-old lives on the Lossiemouth RAF base with his wife, Jo, and three-year-old daughter, Eve

A former pupil at South Craven School, Cross Hills, he was a member of Skipton Air Cadets.

His parents, Michael and Pat Myers, of Newlands Drive, Cross Hills, told the Herald of their pride in their son and relief to see him return home safe and well.

"He is fine, with no injuries," Mrs Myers said. "We kept in touch through e-mail and text and neighbours and friends were brilliant. We had lots of support. Skipton Air Cadets wrote him a letter to wish him well and he replied to them and will be going to talk to them when he can."

Mrs Myers said that Sqdr Ldr Myers' number one fan was his nephew, Tom, who had been sending him e-mails every day during the war to keep him up to date with life in Rylstone and at Water Street School.

This is the first conflict her son has been involved in, and although it was a desperately worrying time for his parents, they had nothing but pride for his involvement.

"He wanted to fly since the age of 11 and that was that," Mr Myers said. "He wanted to be a fighter pilot and was so determined.

"He felt there was no reason why anyone if they tried hard enough couldn't do it. He was very proud of his roots and a good example to others at the school and within the cadets who might want to do the same."

Sqdr Ldr Myers started his career with the RAF in his teens as a member of the 264 Squadron Air Training Corps in Skipton. He was awarded a sixth form scholarship to complete his A-levels and gained his private pilot's licence at 17.

After finishing his education he joined the RAF in 1986 and completed his initial officer training at RAF College Cranwell.

Sqdr Ldr Myers has worked as a test pilot and instructor, training student pilots and navigators in all aspects of weaponry, tactics and air combat. He was also a display pilot flying the Tornado GR1 in 1999.

He is expected to return to the Gulf in August.