G G Barrett

Gareth Guilbert b: 19 Jul 1908 r: 2 Aug 1957 d: 12 Mar 1966

CBE - 2 Jun 1943.

Plt Off: 27 Jul 1929, Fg Off: 27 Jan 1931, Flt Lt: 27 Jan 1935, Sqn Ldr: 1 Jul 1938, Act Wg Cdr: 6 Feb 1940, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Dec 1940, Act Gp Capt: 29 Sep 1942, Wg Cdr (WS): 29 Mar 1943, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1943, Wg Cdr: 1 Oct 1946, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1947, Act A/Cdre: 21 Aug 1953 - 24 Feb 1956, A/Cdre: Retained.

1 Sep 1927: Flight Cadet, 'A' Sqn, RAF College.

27 Jul 1929: Supernumerary, RAF Base Calshot

24 Sep 1929: Attended No 8 Flying Boat Pilots Course, RAF Base Calshot

4 Mar 1930: Supernumerary, RAF Base Calshot, pending posting overseas (Attached to Flying Out Party, No 203 Sqn at RAF Calshot)

7 Jun 1930: Pilot, No 203 Sqn. (Arrived on 19 Jun 1930 having assisted in delivery of a new Southampton)

27 Apr 1932: Departed on posting to Home Establishment

28 Apr 1932: Supernumerary, RAF Depot

25 Jul 1932: Pilot, Seaplane Flight, Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment

11 Mar 1933: Pilot, Catapult Flight, Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment

28 Jan 1934: Attended Long Navigation Course, RAF Base Calshot.

31 Aug 1934: Awarded Specialist Symbol 'N' on completion of Long Navigation Course (93%)

8 Sep 1934: Navigation Officer, No 209 Sqn (Felixstowe/Plymouth)

4 - 22 Feb 1935: Attached, RAF Base Gosport for Instrument Flying Course

17 Sep 1935: Supernumerary, No 230 Sqn (Pembroke Dock)

23 Sep 1935: Navigation Officer, No 230 Sqn (Egypt)

30 Jul 1936: Supernumerary, No 230 Sqn (Pembroke Dock)

1 Oct 1936: Admitted to hospital (Asthma)

6 Oct 1936: Supernumerary, RAF Depot (N/E sick)

1 Nov 1936: Supernumerary, RAF College, Cranwell.

15 Nov 1936: Navigation Officer, RAF College, Cranwell.

6 Jun 1938: Navigation Instructor, School of Air Navigation.

23 Jan 1939: Attended RAF Staff College.

13 Sep 1939: Air Staff - Navigation, HQ Advanced Air Striking Force

5 Oct 1939: Staff Officer, T Nav, Deputy Director of Flying Training.

27 Jan 1941: Officer Commanding, No 210 Sqn

14 Nov 1941: Directing Staff, RAF Staff College (in English, Staff Duties and Maritime Warfare)

29 Sep 1942: Commanding Officer, No 328 Wing

5 May 1943: SASO, HQ No 25 (Training) Group.

14 Feb 1944: Supernumerary, HQ No 25 (Training) Group.

2 Mar 1944: Director Plans (Air) Combined Chiefs of Staff Washington DC

3 Jan 1945: Supernumerary, RAF Delegation Washington

3 Feb 1945: Supernumerary, No 1 Personnel Despatch Centre (Disembarkation leave)

21 Feb 1945: Deputy Director of Staff Duties (1).

10 Oct 1946: Senior Directing Staff, Joint Services Staff College.

7 Sep 1948: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit

18 Oct 1948: Director of War Organisation

7 Jun 1951: Director of Administrative Plans and War Organisation.

1 Oct 1951: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit

15 Oct 1951: Officer Commanding, RAF St Mawgan

22-25 Jul 1952: Attended Senior Officers' Study Period Course, Joint School of Chemical Warfare, Winterbourne Gunner

2-13 Feb 1953: Attended No 34 Joint Tactical Course, Joint Anti-Submarine School, Londonderry

17 Aug 1953: Supernumerary, AHQ Gibraltar (on emplaning)

21 Aug 1953: AOC, AHQ Gibraltar (COMGIBMED/COMGIBLANT)

12 Jan 1956: Supernumerary, AHQ Gibraltar

14 Jan 1956: Supernumerary, No 5 Personnel Despatch Centre (Disembarkation leave)

1 Apr 1956: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit (authorised to remain at home pending posting)

9 Jul 1956: Deputy Director of Intelligence (2).

1 Apr 1957: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit (authorised to remain at home pending retirement)

From September 1922 to 1927 he attended Dulwich College, where he achieved the rank of Corporal in the OTC and was awarded a scholarship to Trinity College as well as a prize scholarship to the RAF College at Cranwell, which he took up. At Cranwell he represented the College at Shooting and Tennis and attained the rank of Flight Cadet Sergeant.

From 1950 he began suffering heart problems, which resulted in a restricted medical category and being restricted to flying as a co-pilot only up to 15,000 ft.

He was slightly injured in a flying accident whilst flying as a passenger in Sycamore HR Mk 12 of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Development Unit, which lost power and crashed in a car park at St Austell during a demonstration on 16 September 1952.