An Oxford academic, who had a distinguished career as a wartime bomber pilot, has died.

Rupert Cecil, who was 87, earned a Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar as a bomber captain during the night battles over Germany, and went on to staff posts at the Air Ministry until he was demobbed in 1945.

Post-war he returned to Balliol College in Oxford, where he had graduated in biochemistry in 1939. He completed a doctorate, and remained for a period as a lecturer, before devoting his time to research in the specialised study of insulins and haemoglobin.

Born in London, he was educated at Stowe School, and while at Balliol, trained as a pilot with the Oxford University Air Squadron.

After two tours of duty he flew on operations continuously during the period in which Bomber Command crews paid a heavy price while attacking heavily defended targets in Germany. He was awarded a Bar to his earlier DFC for having "displayed fearless determination to bomb the target."

In 1962 he was appointed the first Dean and Vice-Principal of the newly established Linacre College.

He was a committed member of the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

He was married twice, and is survived by two sons and three daughters. A family cremation today is being followed by a celebration of his life at Linacre College.