A FORMER plasterer who swapped his trowel for Army training has spent the last fortnight launching mini planes in the California desert.

Lance Bombardier Lewis Taylor, of Tredegar, has been learning to operate the Desert Hawk III – a mini unmanned aerial vehicle the Army uses to survey dangerous areas from high in the sky to keep troops safe.

The 27-year-old Afghanistan veteran serves with 104 Regiment Royal Artillery – the Army’s only Reserve unit to operate this type of equipment. LBdr Taylor spent two weeks based at Nacimiento Training Area at Camp Roberts, in California – a location used by the US Army’s National Guard for training and is located between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

He is one of more than 100 soldiers from 104 Rgt RA who took part in Exercise Flying Dragon.

The father of 18-month-old Nyle started off working life as a plasterer but, after wanting to join the Army early on, later joined the TA.

He has since completed operational tours of Afghanistan and his day job is now working for a pharmaceutical company in Hay-on-Wye as a packaging assistant.

LBdr said: “It’s something that allows us to make sure areas are safe. It does give you a warm, fuzzy feeling to know that it saves lives.”

He added: “This job is something I really enjoy and it gives you a lot of satisfaction.”