Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Vice-Marshal J G Franks (16152)

John Gerald      b: 23 May 1905                     r: 4 Apr 1960                                          d: 23 Sep 1995

CB –10 Jun 1954, CBE – 1 Jan 1949, MiD – 1 Jan 1941, LoM (Cdr) – 13 Sep 1949

For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here

(RAF): - Plt Off: 17 Dec 1924, Fg Off: 17 Jun 1926, Flt Lt: 8 Jan 1930, Sqn Ldr: 1 Dec 1936, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1940, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Dec 1941, Wg Cdr: 14 Apr 1942 [1 Jan 1940], (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1946, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1946, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1947, Act AVM: 8 Sep 1952, AVM: 1 Jan 1954.

 1 Feb 1923:                Flight Cadet, ‘A’ Sqn, RAF College, Cranwell

17 Dec 1924:               Appointed to a Permanent Commission.

17 Dec 1925:               Pilot, No 56 Fighter Sqn, Biggin Hill

 1 Sep 1926:                Attended Carrier Flying Course, RAF Base Leuchars.

 3 Dec 1926:                Pilot, Fleet Air Arm

1 Sep 1927:                 Armament Officer, No 407 Flt.

24 Sep 1928:               Pilot, RAF Base Malta

xx xxx xxxx:                 Supernumerary?

 2 Sep 1929:               Attended No 5 'A' Armament Course, Armament & Gunnery School

31 Jan 1930:               Successfully completed the Specialist Armament Course and awarded the symbol 'A'

 7 Mar 1930:               Armament Officer, No 2 (Indian Wing) Station, Risalpur.

30 Dec 1930:              Armament Staff Officer and PA to the AOC, HQ RAF India.

xx xxx 1932:                PA to the AOC, HQ RAF India.

xx xxx xxxx:                 Supernumerary?

24 May 1935:              Flight Commander, No 57 Sqn.

xx Sep 1935:               Officer Commanding, 'D' Flight, No 14 Sqn

 8 Jan 1936:                 Officer Commanding, 'D' Flight, No 45 Sqn.

 1 Feb 1937:                Armament Officer, No 5 Armament Training Camp, Penrhos.

 1 Jan 1938:                 Air Staff – Armament, No 25 (Armament) Group.

23 Jan 1939:                RAF Staff College

20 Sep 1939:               Chief Instructor, No 1 Air Armament School.

24 Apr 1940:               Transferred to the Technical Branch.

 1 Nov 1941:               Officer Commanding, No 8 Air Gunners School/RAF Evanton

xx xxx 1944:                Staff, Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment.

xx xxx 1945:               Director of Armament Research and Development

22 Nov 1948:              AOC and Commandant Empire Air Armament School.

19 Apr 1949:              Senior Technical Staff Officer, HQ Flying Training Command

xx xxx 1951:                Attended Imperial Defence College

 5 Jan 1952:                Commandant, RAF Technical College, Henlow

 8 Sep 1952:                AOC, No 24 (Training) Group.

 1 Mar 1955:               Senior Air Staff Officer, HQ Technical Training Command

xx xxx 1959:                President, Ordnance Board

At Cranwell he attained the rank of Flight Cadet Corporal and represnted the college at Rugby.

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