AN RAF pilot who died when a light plane crashed in a field near Dinton, in south Wiltshire, has been named as Flt Lt Alexandre Jay Parr, 40, who is understood to have lived in Marlborough.

Flt Lt Parr died, and a second, unnamed, man was injured, when their Yak 52 aircraft crashed on Friday, July 8.

The plane was heading towards Boscombe Down, where Flt Lt Parr was based at the Empire Test Pilot School.

At one time the family had lived in Bath Road in Marlborough.

This week the MoD refused to confirm whether or not Flt Lt Parr was at the controls when the crash happened.

Group Captain Tom Lyons, the Air Warfare Centre chief test pilot, said: “Alex was a gifted test pilot and his easy approachability made him a natural at instruction. He was a very popular member of ETPS and we are deeply saddened by the loss of our close friend and colleague.

“This tragic accident will be felt by all who knew Alex: a kind, loving, talented friend. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time, to whom I offer my most sincere condolences.”

Ft Lt Parr was pronounced dead at the scene and the second man in the plane was cut free from the wreckage and transported to Salisbury District Hospital by air ambulance.

He had started his career in flying in 1994 at the Cambridge University Air Squadron, where he completed undergraduate and postgraduate engineering degrees.

An investigation is due to be launched into the accident.