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Air Vice-Marshal E James (87346)


Edgar JamesEdgar                           b: 19 Oct 1915                     r: 4 Apr 1969                     d: 22 Aug 1996

CBE – 1 Jan 1966, DFC – 20 Jul 1945, AFC – 1 Jan 1948, Bar - 1 Jan 1959, FRAeS, QCVSA – 31 May 1956.

(RAFVR): Plt Off: 20 Oct 1940, Fg Off: 19/20 Apr 1941, Flt Lt (WS): 19 Oct 1942,  

(RAF): Flt Lt: 28 Feb 1946 [1 Dec 1942], Sqn Ldr: 1 Aug 1947, Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1954, Act Gp Capt: 27 Apr 1959, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1959, Act A/Cdre: xx xxx xxxx, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1963, Act AVM: 1 Sep 1966, AVM: 1 Jan 1967.

Edgar James

by Walter Bird
bromide print, 23 November 1966
NPG x168578

© National Portrait Gallery, London

xx xxx 1939:            U/T Pilot, ?

xx Nov 1940:            QFI, No 36 EFTS, Pearce, Alberta, Canada.

xx xxx 1944:            Pilot, No 305 (Ziemia Wiwlkopolska) Sqn. (Mosquito FB VI)

xx xxx xxxx:             Pilot, No 107 Sqn. (Mosquito FB VI)

xx Jan 1946:            Instructor, Empire Flying School.

28 Feb 1946:           Appointed to 4 year Short Service Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant. [antedated to 1 Dec 1942 on 25 Feb 1947]

15 Jan 1948:            Appointed to Permanent Commission in the rank of Squadron Leader 

30 Jun 1948:            Air Staff - Training, HQ Fighter Command.

xx Jan 1950:            Attended RAF Staff College.

 1 Jan 1951:             Staff Officer, Directorate of Operational Requirements (A).

xx xxx 1951:            Staff Officer, Directorate of Operational Requirements (B).

xx xxx 1953:            Staff, HQ 2nd TAF.

xx xxx 1954:            Officer Commanding, No 68 Sqn. (Meteor NF11)

xx xxx 1956:            Staff, Central Fighter Establishment.

xx xxx 1958:            Staff, HQ Fighter Command.

27 Apr 1959:           CFI, Central Flying School.

 1 May 1961:           Officer Commanding, RAF Leeming.

 1 Jan 1963:             Director of Operational Requirements (A)/(1)

xx Feb 1966:            Commander, British Forces - Zambia.

 1 Sep 1966:             Deputy Controller of Equipment, Ministry of Technology.

Commanded British forces at start of Rhodesian crisis.  Became Aviation consultant after retirement.

Citation for the award of Distinguished Flying Cross

"JAMES, Edgar, A/S/L (87346, RAFVR) - No.107 Squadron.

This officer has an exceptionally fine record of operational flying.  Throughout, he has displayed great keenness and enthusiasm.  In February 1945, Squadron Leader James took part in a successful attack on a railway siding in Trayan.  In April 1945, four separate targets on the enemy’s lines of communication were attacked on the same night.  Squadron Leader James possesses initiative, coolness and a very fine fighting spirit."

(Source - Air Ministry Bulletin 19267)

Citation for the award of Air Force Cross

"JAMES, Edgar, S/L, DFC (87346) - Empire Flying School

Squadron Leader James has been employed on instructional duties since November 1940, except for a break for a tour of operations in Mosquito aircraft in 1944-45.  He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in April 1945.  Since January 1946 he has been engaged as Tutor at the Empire Flying School and, in this capacity, has completed 400 hours instructional flying.  This officer was awarded an A.1 Category as instructor in August 1947.  He is an outstanding officer in every respect and commands a position of high regard because of his dependability in all his work.  Squadron Leader James has been principally responsible for the constitution of the Cumulo-Nimbus Committee.  He has acted as its chairman in a most able manner and has contributed greatly to the study of general weather turbulence.  In the course of  this work, Squadron Leader James has flown continually, regardless of the weather, in a genuinely self-imposed attempt to further the investigation of Instrument/Weather flying.  Every project entrusted to him has been discharged in a meticulous, conscientious and able fashion.

(Source - Air 2/9816 drafted when he had flown 3,180 hours, 2,528 on current duties, 150 in previous six months.)

This page was last updated on 15/02/24

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