THE new post for Wing Commander Nigel Guz is almost a home-coming.

He has just taken the reins of XI (Fighter) Squadron at RAF Leeming, taking over from Wing Commander Mick Mercer who has been posted to the Ministry of Defence.

Born in Middlesbrough, he lived his pre-university life in Billingham, where his parents Stan and Joyce, and three brothers still live.

Initially educated at Brunner Secondary and Bede Sixth Form College, Billingham, he took a first-class honours in aeronautical engineering at Southampton University.

He has completed three consecutive air defence tours in Tornado F3s, clocking up more than 2,000 hours on the type.

In the past he has served in the Far East, former Yugoslavia, South Atlantic, United States and the east Mediterranean.

He comes to Leeming following a tour in command of the Eurofighter Operational Evaluation Unit, at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.

A married man, he and his wife Alison have a daughter, Victoria