In a wartime career replete with intense action in the skies over enemy-occupied Europe, Ivor Broom joined the RAF in the ranks in 1940 and after pilot training went on to fly bombing operations to the end of the war. These ranged from the desperate Malta-based Blenheim sorties of 1941 to the great radar-guided Pathfinder raids of 1944 and 1945, in which he often ventured as far as Berlin, flying the speedy Mosquitoes of the Light Night Striking Force on special diversionary missions. In that time he won a remarkable tally of decorations: a DSO and three DFCs.

Making the transition to the jet age after the war, Broom piloted the remarkable Canberra bomber Aries IV on one of its record-breaking flights of the 1950s, a capital-to-capital flight from Ottawa to London, as part of a demonstration of a new air route over the North Pole. Rising to senior appointments as an AOC, he nevertheless continued to fly as long as he could, and at 50 piloted the Mach 2 Lightning fighters of 11 Group, which he then commanded. His final RAF appointment was as Controller of National Air Traffic Services, the organisation that provides air traffic control for the entire United Kingdom and eastern North Atlantic.

Ivor Gordon Broom was born in Cardiff in 1920, the son of a Baptist preacher who was district manager for the Prudential in the Rhondda. He was educated at West Monmouth Grammar School and Pontypridd County School. Having passed the Civil Service Examination, he had his first job as a clerk in an income tax office in Ipswich, where, impressed by the Blenheims he often saw overhead, he enlisted in May 1940 in the RAFVR.

After training as a pilot, in July 1941 he was posted to Bomber Command, where he joined 114 Squadron, operating Blenheims on daylight raids. In late July 1941 Sergeant Pilot Broom was detailed to lead a small formation of Blenheims to the Far East. After getting his flock as far as .Malta, he found himself and his Blen.heim hijacked by the belligerent AOC Malta, Air Vice-Marshal Hugh Pughe Lloyd, who was desperate to replace the heavy losses being experienced by 107 Squadron.

Within weeks, as a result of catas.trophic losses among the squadron’s officers, Broom, just turned 21, was abruptly commissioned and detailed to lead the remnants of No 107 in attacks on Axis shipping and targets in Italy and North Africa. Before he departed Malta some months later, he had accomplished 31 operations from that besieged and battered island where losses on low-level shipping strikes were as high as one in three. He was awarded his first DFC early in 1942 for his leadership and determination.

Back in Britain, he had periods at operational training units as an instructor, firstly on Blenheims and then on the vastly superior Mosquitoes, before being posted as a flight lieutenant in April 1944 to join 571 Squadron, along with a brilliant navigator, Tommy Broom (no relation).

No 571 Squadron was part of Air Marshal Don Bennett’s Light Night Striking Force, in 8 Group, Pathfinder Force. They carried out a number of special tasks flying Mosquitoes: diversionary raids, Pathfinder sorties and spectacular low-level attacks upon prized targets — all at night. Broom was awarded his second DFC in October 1944.

Promotion to squadron leader followed, with a posting as flight com.mander to 128 Squadron, with which he was awarded his third DFC in February 1945. He was next appointed to command 163 Squadron, still on Mosquitoes, an appointment in which Tommy Broom went with him as squadron navigating officer. By that time Bennett had learnt that the two Flying Brooms, as they were known throughout the PFF, made a superb combination of determination, skill and accuracy. Although Broom had before the end of the war exceeded his quota of operational flights and was due a deserved rest period, he continued flying right to the end, including many raids on Berlin. He was awarded his DSO in 1945.

After the war he was on administrative duties at HQ 8 Group and at HQ Air Command South East Asia before being given command of 28 Squadron of reconnaissance Spitfires at Kuala Lumpur and Tengah. He had spent his entire war on twin-engined bombers and the Spitfire was a type he had to learn to fly almost at the end of its operational life. He later rose to command several key units, which included the RAF Flying College at Manby.

On July 28, 1955, flying the Canberra jet bomber Aries IV as part of a three-man crew, Broom established a new transatlantic record when he covered the 3,330 miles from Ottawa to London in 6hr 32min at an average speed of 496.8mph. For this feat he was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1956.

From 1956 to 1959 he commanded the Bomber Command Development Unit, where he flew V-bombers, and from 1962 to 1964 RAF Brüggen in Germany, where Canberras, bombed up, stood at immediate readiness during the Cuban missile crisis. At the Central Flying School, where he was commandant, 1968-70, he flew alongside the famous Red Arrows formation team in their Folland Gnats. Later appointments were as AOC 11 Group, Strike Command, before his two final posts, as Deputy Controller (1972-74) and Controller (1974-77) of National Air Traffic Services, the last appointment carrying with it membership of the board of the CAA. Broom was appointed CBE in 1969, CB in 1972 and KCB in 1975.

Broom was a popular commander who liked to share the risks taken by those under him. This included flying the Lightnings of 11 Group and the Gnats of the Central Flying School. As an air vice-marshal he also learnt to fly helicopters and insisted on experiencing conditions at the end of a winch wire. He never lost the common touch and was respected for never treating those of inferior rank as inferior individuals.

In retirement, as well as giving devoted service to such groups as the Bomber and Pathfinder Associations, Broom several chairmanships and directorships of commercial companies. He was chairman, Gatwick Handling, 1982-93, and of the Farnborough Aerospace Development Corporation, 1985-92.

He also helped to raise more than £1million for the RAF’s Dowding Home for the disabled and was, in addition, president, vice-president or chairman of the Royal Air Force Association, the Aircrew Association and the Blenheim and Mosquito Societies.

A keen rugby player and later referee, in retirement Broom was an active player and president of Moor Park Golf Club. In 1996 he featured in the BBC’s This Is Your Life.

Broom was always a practising Christian who, during the war, was both a non-smoker and non-drinker. This did not, however, prevent him from being a great RAF party man. As such he made an excellent role model for any young ambitious man to follow.

Ivor Broom is survived by his wife, Jess, whom he married in 1942, and by two sons and a daughter.

Air Marshal Sir Ivor Broom, KCB, CBE, DSO, DFC & two Bars, AFC, wartime bomber pilot and Controller National Air Traffic Servicers, 1974-77, was born in Cardiff on June 2, 1920. He died on January 24, 2003, aged 82.