Derek Fowler was one of the youngest pilots — and possibly the youngest — to win the Distinguished Flying Medal in the Second World War. Having enlisted under age on leaving Framlingham College, Suffolk, by 1942 he was a sergeant pilot flying Wellingtons in attacks on German shipping supplying Rommel’s Afrika Korps across the Mediterranean.

Although designed as bombers, the Wellingtons in his squadron had been adapted to launch torpedoes at low altitude using a primitive aiming device. Sighting a German tanker sailing south, Fowler prepared for attack but the escorting destroyers put up a dense smoke screen. He waited around until it had cleared and then flew in low to avoid the destroyers’ anti-aircraft fire. His torpedo struck home, resulting in a huge explosion and the tanker being enveloped in flames. His courage and determination were rewarded by the DFM.

Later in the war he flew Lancaster bombers of the Pathfinder force over Germany. Resolved to continue flying after demobilisation, as a flight lieutenant, he worked for Transair, flying newspapers to Brussels and Paris. When Transair furnished a DC3 Dakota for executive luxury travel, he was seconded to fly Aristotle Onassis and Stavros Niarchos for four years until the two shipping magnates had a disagreement and Niarchos bought the Onassis share of the arrangement. Fowler and his crew became directly employed by Niarchos, flying ever faster and more comfortable machines, the final one being a Boeing 737 converted to carrying one small party in absolute luxury.

In retirement to Switzerland, Fowler continued flying with second his wife, Yela (known as Peter), who was also an accomplished pilot, using their Citation seven to eight-seater to ferry their friends from England and elsewhere to their home in Silvaplana near the southeastern border with Italy.

Fowler is survived by his wife and two sons and a daughter of his first marriage.

Flight Lieutenant Derek Fowler, DFM, was born on July 9, 1923. He died on October 17, 2008, aged 85