Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Commodore E D Johnson

Eric Digby                    b: 25 Dec 1892                     r: 21 Apr 1944                     d: 16 Jan 1971

AFC - 8 Feb 1919, MiD - 20 May 1918, MiD - 1 Jan 1941, MiD - 11 Jun 1942.

(Army): - (T) 2 Lt: 7 Jan 1915, Lt: 1 Apr 1916, (T) Capt: 15 Jul 1916.

(RAF): - Capt: 1 Apr 1918, Flt Lt: 1 Aug 1919?, Sqn Ldr: 1 Jul 1924, Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1932, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1937, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1940, A/Cdre: Retained.

xx xxx xxxx:         Member, Inns of Court OTC.

 7 Jan 1915:          Officer, East Surrey Regiment

28 Jul 1915:            U/T Pilot, No 5 Reserve Sqn, RFC

21 Oct 1915:           Appointed Flying Officer, RFC.

21 Oct 1915:           Transferred to the General List

 5 Feb 1916:            Pilot, No 21 Sqn

15 Jul 1916:             Flight Commander, No 21 Sqn RFC.

30 Jul - 2 Aug 1916:  Temporary duty in England

22 Dec 1916:           Returned to Home Establishment

xx xxx xxxx:             Serving in the UK

27 Oct 1917:           Re-embarked for France

31 Oct 1917:            Posted to No 1 ASD

10 Jan 1918:            Officer Commanding (Temporary), No 1 ASD (Receipt Park)

 8 Feb 1918:            Posted to No 1 ASD (Issues Section)

 9 Feb 1918:            Officer Commanding, No 1 ASD (Issues Section)

 7-8 Mar 1918:        Temporary duty in England (followed by leave until 22 Mar 1918) 

30 Aug 1918:          Temporary duty in England (followed by leave until 14 Sep 1918) 

26 Sep 1918:           Admitted to No 14 General Hospital

27 Sep 1918:           Transferred to No 39 General Hospital (Sciatica)

27 Oct - 17 Nov 1918:        Sick Leave in France

17 Nov 1918:           Returned to Home Establishment (Sick Leave)

xx xxx 1919:             Adjutant, RAF Eastchurch

12 Sep 1919:           Awarded Short Service Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

24 Mar 1920:           Staff, Armament and Gunnery School. (E Digby-Johnson)

26 Sep 1921:           Staff, Boys Wing, RAF Cranwell.

27 Nov 1924:          Staff, RAF (Cadet) College.

22 Sep 1925:           Officer Commanding, No 55 Sqn. (DH9A - Hinaidi)

10 Jun 1927:            Flight Commander, No 9 Sqn. (Virginia - Manston)

15 Sep 1927:           Supernumerary, No 3 Sqn. (Woodcock, Gamecock, Bulldog - Upavon)

19 Sep 1927:           Officer Commanding, No 3 Sqn. (Woodcock, Gamecock, Bulldog - Upavon)

21 Sep 1930:           Staff, M.A.E.E.

16 Jul 1932:             Supernumerary, No 99 Sqn.

 1 Aug 1932:            Officer Commanding, No 99 Sqn. (Hinaidi, Heyford - Upper Heyford)

13 Jan 1934:            Senior Personnel Staff Officer, HQ Central Area.

 9 Dec 1934:            OC Flying, HMS Furious.

12 Oct 1937:            Officer Commanding, RAF Mount Batten.

xx xxx 1939:             ?

 7 Oct 1940:             AOA, HQ British Forces in Iraq.  

xx Aug 1941:            AOA, AHQ Iraq.

17 Jun 1942:             Deputy AOA, HQ Fighter Command.

20 Jan 1943:             AOA, HQ RAF in Northern Ireland.

Originally shown as E Digby-Johnson, he attended Harrow School from 1906 to 1909 and gained RAeC Certificate No 1601 on 17 August 1915.