Downey qualified as a pilot just before his 19th birthday and started the Second World War by flying North Sea patrols with 608 squadron.
He then spent some time flying Spitfires with a Photo-Reconnaissance unit based in St Eval, Cornwall.
While stationed at Manby, he flew 'Aries III', a modified Lincoln bomber taking off on 20 October 1950 on a round-the-world flight of 29,000 miles.
A subsequent leg was from Mauritius to Perth, Western Australia; this was believed to be the first west-to-east non-stop flight across the Indian Ocean.
For completing this round the world trip in 28 days Downey was awarded an Air Force Cross.