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Air Vice-Marshal E L Colbeck-Welch (34081)


Edward Lawrence             b: 29 Jan 1914                      r: 2 Mar 1963                     d: 16 Apr 1994

CB – 31 Dec 1960, OBE – 1 Jan 1948, DFC – 3 Mar 1942, MiD - 24 Sep 1941,  MiD – 1 Jan 1946.

Act Plt Off (P): 1 Sep 1933, Plt Off: 1 Sep 1934, Fg Off: 1 Apr 1936, Act Flt Lt: 8 Jun 1937 - 22 Aug 1937, Flt Lt: 1 Apr 1938, Sqn Ldr (SSC): 1 Jun 1939, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Jun 1941, Act Gp Capt: 20 Apr 1943, Wg Cdr (WS): 20 Oct 1943, Sqn Ldr (PC): 25 Feb 1947 [1 Jun 1944], Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1947, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1952, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1958, Act AVM: 30 May 1960, AVM: 1 Jan 1961.

 1 Sep 1933:            Supernumerary, RAF Depot (Initial Officer Training)

16 Sep 1933:           U/T Pilot, No 5 FTS.

 2 Sep 1934:            Pilot, No 22 Sqn. (Vildebeest)

23 Aug 1937:           Attended Instructors' Course, Central Flying School (graded B)

xx xxx 1937:            Flying Instructor, No 7 FTS

13 Dec 1937:           Assistant Adjutant/Flying Instructor, No 603 (City of Edinburgh) Sqn AuxAF. (Hind)

 9 Dec 1938:            Supernumerary, No 600 (City of London) Sqn AuxAF. (Blenheim If)

12 Dec 1938:           Adjutant/Flying Instructor, No 600 (City of London) Sqn AuxAF. (Blenheim If)

29 Feb - 18 Mar 1939:           Attached to RAF Sutton Bridge for Air Firing Instructors' Course

 6 Aug 1939:            Fortress Liaison Officer - Portsmouth, HQ No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.

25 Aug 1939:           Engineer Staff Officer, HQ No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.

 9 Oct 1939:            Posted to RAF Depot (Non-effective).

xx xxx 1940:            Air Staff, ?

xx xxx 1941:            Attended No 54 OTU

 4 Apr 1941:            Flight Commander, No 219 Sqn.

13 Jun 1941:            Officer Commanding, No 29 Sqn.

20 Jul 1942:             Attended RAF Staff College.

19 Oct 1942:           Air Staff, HQ Fighter Command.

 6 Apr 1943:            Group Captain - ?, HQ No 10 (Fighter) Group

xx xxx 1944:            Air Staff, HQ 2nd TAF.

22 Jan 1945:            Officer Commanding, No 139 (Bomber) Wing.

xx xxx 1945:            Deputy Director of Operations (Air Defence).

26 Mar 1946:          Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Squadron Leader (retaining rank current at the time) [wef 1 Sep 1945 antedated to 1 Jun 1944 on 25 Feb 1947]

xx xxx 1946:            Deputy Director of Operations.

24 Feb 1948:          Air Staff, British Joint Services Mission (USA) (Air Force Staff)

xx xxx 1950:            Officer Commanding, RAF Coltishall.

xx xxx xxxx:            Officer Commanding, RAF Horsham St Faith.

14 Dec 1953:          Deputy Director of Personnel (II).

xx xxx 1956:            Attended Imperial Defence College.

xx xxx 1957:            Commandant, Central Fighter Establishment.

 1 Nov 1958:           SASO, HQ No 13 (Fighter) Group.

30 May 1960:          SASO, HQ Fighter Command.  

Retired on account of medical unfitness for air force service.

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

“Wing Commander Edward Lawrence COLBECK-WELCH (34081), No.29 Squadron.

This officer has commanded the squadron since June, 1941, and he has participated in 70 night sorties.  In January, 1942, after a pursuit lasting nearly 20 minutes, he shot down a Dornier 217 into the sea some 70 miles from the coast.  This is the second enemy aircraft he has shot down at night far out to sea.  Wing Commander Colbeck-Welch has shown tenacity and a fine fighting spirit.”

(London Gazette – 3 March 1942)

This page was last updated on 28/03/24©

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