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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Roy Williamson
b: 31 Dec 1896
r: 29 Sep 1946
d: 7 Feb 1982
MC - 22 Jun 1918, MiD - 15 May 1917.
(Army):- Tpr: 25 Jan 1915, Pte: 20 Jan 1916, (T) 2 Lt: 17 Jun 1916, (T) Capt: 27 Jul 1917.
(RAF):- (T) Capt [Lt]: 1 Apr 1918, Flt Lt: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918], Sqn Ldr: 10 Oct 1928, Act Wg Cdr (unp): 23 Nov 1934, Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1935, Gp Capt: 1 Nov 1938, Act A/Cdre (pd): 23 Oct 1942, Act A/Cdre (unp): 1 Aug 1943, A/Cdre: Retained.
25 Jan 1915: Trooper, Hartigans Horse, South African Forces
22 May 1915: Discharged on Demobilisation
20 Jan 1916:
Private, Inns of Court OTC.
16 Jun 1916: Discharged on appointment to Commission on the General List
17 Jun 1916: U/T Pilot, No 2 School of Aeronautics
17 Jun 1916: Appointed to a Commission on the General List
5 Jul 1916: U/T Pilot, No 3 Reserve Sqn RFC
24 Jul 1916: U/T Pilot, No 13 Reserve Sqn RFC
24 Aug 1916: Appointed Flying Officer, RFC
24 Aug 1916: Pilot, No 49 Sqn RFC
6 Sep 1916: Pilot, No 27 Sqn RFC. (Martinsyde G100)
31 Mar 1917: Returned to Home Establishment
13 Apr 1917: Instructor, CFS. (graded Flt Cdr from 27 Jul 1917)
22 Nov 1917: Embarked for France
23 Nov 1917: Attached, No 2 ASD
30 Nov 1917: Flight Commander, No 41 Sqn.
15 Jul 1918: Returned to Home Establishment
15 Aug 1918: Instructor, No 1 Fighting School
25 Jan 1919: Instructor, No 2 Training Depot Station
27 Mar 1919: Officer Commanding, No 55 Sqn
14 Apr 1919: Awaiting disposal, HQ South East Area
18 Apr 1919: Instructor, No 45 Training Depot Station (assumed duties on 23 Apr 1919)
30 Jun 1919: Awaiting disposal, HQ South West Area
8 Jul 1919: Instructor, No 11 Training Depot Station
28 Oct 1919: Granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant (effective from 1 Aug)
31 Oct 1919: Awaiting disposal, HQ No 1 Group
5 Nov 1919: Flight Commander, Air Council Inspection Squadron. (re-numbered No 24)
1 Feb 1920: Flight Commander, No 24 Sqn.
4 Dec 1920: Categorised as a Flying Instructor 'A1'
7 - 11 Nov 1922: Attached to No 100 Sqn for Twin-engine Course (Vimy) - passed as Competent Pilot
13 Dec 1922: Flight Commander, No 70 Sqn.
20 Feb 1923: Flight Commander, No 84 Sqn.
14 Oct 1923: Supernumerary (non-effective), RAF Depot.
11 Feb 1924: Test Pilot, Inland Area Aircraft Depot.
15 Jan 1925: Supernumerary, RAF Depot whilst attended School of Oriental Studies.
14 Jul 1925: Passed Preliminary Course in Japanese
15 Jul 1925: Supernumerary, RAF Depot on completion of course at School of Oriental Studies.
25 Jul 1925: Temporary duty with Directorate of Intelligence
9 Oct 1925: Language Officer, British Embassy, Tokyo.
8 Nov 1927: Passed 2nd year Course in Japanese
26 Oct 1928: Passed 3rd year Course in Japanese and qualified as Interpreter 1st Class
26 Dec 1928: Supernumerary, RAF Depot on completion of course in Japan.
28 Jan 1929: Temporary duty with Directorate of Intelligence, pending posting
11 Feb 1929: Air Staff, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence.
7 - 21 Jul 1930: Refresher Flying Course, CFS
25 Aug 1930: Supernumerary, RAF Depot
25 Aug 1930: Attached, RAF Kenley for temporary duty
14 Sep 1930: Attached, No 41 Sqn for temporary duty
26 Sep 1930: Seconded to Imperial Japanese Navy.
7 Apr 1931: Air Staff, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence.
xx Jun 1933: Re-qualified as Interpreter, 1st Class in Japanese
6 Sep 1933: Attended Single Seat Fighter Refresher Course, CFS
21 Sep - 11 Oct 1933: Instrument Flying Course, CFS
12 Nov 1933: Officer Commanding, No 1 Sqn. (Fury I)
1 Oct 1934: Supernumerary, RAF Depot
1 Oct 1934: Temporary duty with Directorate of Intelligence, pending appointment
23 Nov 1934: Pending appointment as Air Attaché, Tokyo.
6 Jan 1935: Air Attaché, Tokyo.
10 Feb 1938: Supernumerary, No 1 RAF Depot.
25 Mar 1938: Temporary duty with Directorate of Intelligence.
10 Apr - 9 Jul 1938: Leave
10 Jul 1938: Supernumerary, No 6 (Auxiliary) Group
10 Jul 1938: Attached, Deputy Directorate of Intelligence
1 Dec 1938: Supernumerary, No 22 (Army Co-operation) Group.
17 Jan 1939: SASO, No 22 (Army Co-operation) Group.
xx Jan 1939: Requalified as Interpreter 1st Class in Japanese
16 Sep 1939: Deputy Director of Intelligence (2).
16 May 1941: Group Captain - Intelligence, AHQ Far East.
4 Jul 1941: Part-time Air Attaché, Bangkok.
29 Jul 1942: Group Captain - Intelligence?, HQ Fighter Command
18 Feb 1942: Supernumerary, No 1 RAF Depot pending posting
7 Mar 1942: Temporary duty with ACAS (I)
17 Mar 1942: Supernumerary - non effective (sick), No 1 RAF Depot
15 Apr 1942: Attached, Deputy Directorate of Intelligence 3
25 Jul 1942: Supernumerary, HQ Fighter Command
29 Jul 1942: Senior Intelligence Officer, HQ Fighter Command
14 Oct 1942: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit pending posting
23 Oct 1942: Director of Intelligence (Security).
1 - 16 Aug 1943: Attached, Air Intelligence (1) for briefing pending posting
20 Aug 1943: Supernumerary, RAF College FTS for Flying Refresher Course
30 Sep 1943: Air Attaché, Rio de Janeiro
24 May 1946: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit
9 Jun 1946: Attached, Directorate of Allied Air Co-operation & Foreign Liaison
23 Jun 1946: Air Ministry Unit, pending retirement.
He gained RAeC Certificate No 3329 on 17 July 1916.
Although posted to France as a bomber pilot in
Martinsyde ‘Elephant’s’ he still managed to gain two confirmed victories
before returning to Britain as an instructor at CFS.
Promoted to Captain, he was posted to No 41 Squadron as a flight commander,
with whom he gained a further nine victories bringing his total to 11.
Citation for the award of the Military Cross
"T./Capt. Roy Williamson Chappell, R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He showed the greatest skill and courage in leading patrols, with the result that during four days' operations the formations which he led destroyed 19 enemy aeroplanes and drove down several others, the fate of which was not observed, owing to the intensity of the fighting. He has destroyed altogether five enemy machines, and has driven down seven others out of control."
(London Gazette - 22 June 1918)
This page was last updated on 16/03/25©
