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Air Marshal O T Boyd

Owen Tudor BoydOwen Tudor                  b: 30 Aug 1889                                                                 d: 5 Aug 1944

CB - 8 Jun 1939, OBE - 10 Oct 1919, MC - 19 Aug 1916, AFC - 10 Oct 1919, MiD - 12 Jan 1920, MiD - 8 Jun 1944.

(Army): - 2 Lt (Unatt List): 20 Jan 1909, 2 Lt (IA): 11 Mar 1910, Lt: 20 Apr 1911, Capt: 1 Sep 1915, (T) Maj: 26 Oct 1916,

(RAF): - (T) Maj [Capt]: 1 Apr 1918, Act Lt Col: 18 Jan 1919, Act Wg Cdr: 1 Aug - 18 Dec 1919, Sqn Ldr: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918], Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1923, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1930, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1934, AVM: 1 Jul 1937, Act AM: 8 Nov 1940 - 25 Dec 1943.

Owen Tudor Boyd

by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, June 1938
NPG x162942

© National Portrait Gallery, London

xx xxx xxxx:            Attended RMC Sandhurst.

20 Jan 1909:            Appointed to a Commission on the Unattached List.

11 Mar 1910:            Officer, 5th Cavalry, Indian Army.

xx xxx xxxx:                U/T Pilot

13 Mar 1916:              U/T Pilot, Central Flying School

25 Apr 1916:             Flying Officer, RFC.

25 Apr 1916:             Instructor (Scout Machines), CFS

22 May 1916:            Embarked for France

29 May  1916:           Pilot, No 27 Sqn RFC. (G100 Elephant – Western Front)

 9 Jul 1916:                Flight Commander, No 27 Sqn RFC. (G100 Elephant – Western Front)

12 Oct 1916:             Returned to Home Establishment

26 Oct 1916:             Instructor, No 42 Reserve Sqn RFC, Hounslow

11 Nov 1916:            Acting Officer Commanding, No 28 Reserve Sqn RFC, Castle Bromwich

31 Dec 1916:             Supernumerary, No 66 Sqn RFC.

19 Jan 1917:              Officer Commanding, No 66 Sqn RFC. (Pup – Western Front)

25 Jul 1917:              ?  

 2 Dec 1917:             Staff Officer, 2nd Class, RFC (Captain - graded as Brigade Major)

 1 Apr 1918:             Staff Officer 2nd Class.

 7 Jul 1918:               Officer Commanding, No 72 Sqn. (DH4, SE5, Spad, G100 Elephant, Bristol M1C – Mesopotamia)

18 Jan 1919:             Officer Commanding, 31th Wing

25-29 May 1919:      Admitted to Hospital (Baghdad) (Sandfly Fever)

 1 Aug 1919:              Awarded Permanent Commission as a Major

10 Oct - 5 Nov 1919:        Detached duty in India

21 Jan 1920:              Staff Officer, HQ Mesopotamian Wing

11-22 May 1920:      Tour of inspection with AVM Salmond

xx xxx xxxx:               Staff Officer, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence

23 Oct 1922:             Officer Commanding, No 24 Sqn. 

26 Feb 1923:            Commandant, School of Army Co-operation.

21 Jan 1926:              Attended Army Staff College, Camberley

15 Dec 1927:             Successfully completed Army Staff Course and awarded the symbol 'qs'

21 Jan 1928:              Directing Staff, Army Staff College, Camberley.

 4 Jan 1930:               Deputy Director of Staff Duties.

 7 Aug 1931:              Officer Commanding, RAF Aden.

16 Apr 1934:             SASO, HQ Fighting Area.

24 Oct 1935:             AOC, Central Area.

 1 May 1936:             AOC, No 1 (Bomber) Group.

21 Dec 1936:             Director of Personal Services.

 7 Nov 1938:              AOC, Balloon Command.

  8 Nov 1940:            Deputy AOC in C, HQ RAF Middle East (designate)

21 Nov 1940:             P.O.W.

24 Feb 1944:              AOC, No 93 Group.

He was educated at Forest School before entering the Royal Military College at Sandhurst.

No 72 Squadron was equipped with a mixture of types in three flights, each flight operating independently with different ground formations.  On 8 November 1940, it was announced that he had been appointed Deputy AOC in C, Middle East.  Twelve days later he was flying aboard Wellington T2873 of No 214 Squadron when, due to bad weather, the aircraft ran short of fuel being forced to land in Sicily instead of Malta where he was taken prisoner. In September 1943 he was one of six senior officers who tunnelled out of their prison, the Castle of Vincigliata near Florence, only two of the six successfully reaching Switzerland, Boyd himself being recaptured at Como.  However, together with General Sir Richard Connor and Lt General Sir Philip Neame, he later made another attempt, which was successful, eventually arriving in Britain in February 1944.  Appointed to command No 93 Group of Bomber Command, he was divorced by his wife for adultery in July 1944 but within days had died.    

Recommendation for the award of Commander of the Order of the Bath: -

“For the CB I recommend Air Vice-Marshal O T Boyd, CBE, MC, AFC, who, in his capacity of Air Officer Commanding the Balloon Command, an appointment which he had held since November last, is responsible for the development and extension of the balloon defence system and is rendering service of very great importance."

Source - Letter from CAS to Sir Alexander Hardinge, Private Secretary to King George VI, dated 12 April 1939 (AIR 2/10212).

This page was last updated on 16/03/25©

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