Michael William Patrick b: 23 Nov 1932 r: 18 Nov 1989
KCB -11 Jun 1983 (CB – 14 Jun 1980), AFC – 1 Jan 1964, ADC, BA (Hons) - 1954, DLitt (Hon) (Liverpool)- 1985, FRAeS - 1984, FRSA - 1994, FRGS - 1994, MBIM - 1977, 3rd Prize - 'Gordon Shephard' Memorial Comp. - 1975
RAFVR: APO (P): 26 Mar 1953.
RAF (Nat Ser): Plt Off: 28 Sep 1954, Fg Off: 28 Sep 1955, Flt Lt: 28 Dec 1955,
(RAF): Fg Off: 27 Sep 1956 [28 Jun 1953], Flt Lt: 22 May 1957, Sqn Ldr: 1 Jul 1961, Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1966, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1971, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1975, Act AVM: 28 Dec 1977, AVM: 1 Jul 1978, Act AM: 1 Jan 1983, AM: 1 Jul 1983, ACM: 1 Jul 1986.
(RAFVR(T)): Fg Off: 19 Nov 1989
xx xxx xxxx: Member, Liverpool University Air Sqn.
26 Mar 1953: Appointed to a Commission in the RAFVR
28 Sep 1954: Relinquished his Commission in the RAFVR
28 Sep 1954: Appointed to a National Service Commission
xx xxx xxxx: National Service Pilot.
xx xxx xxxx: Pilot, No 30 Sqn.
27 Sep 1956: Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the General Duties Branch
xx xxx xxxx: Pilot, No 53 Sqn
xx xxx xxxx: Pilot, No 216 Sqn
xx xxx 1957: Attended Canberra Conversion Course, No 231 OCU.
xx xxx 1957: Pilot, No 139 Sqn
xx xxx 1959: Flight Commander No 249 Sqn.
15 Nov 1961: Officer Commanding, No 32 Sqn.
xx xxx 1964: Attended RAF Staff College.
xx xxx 1965: Staff Officer, Ministry of Aviation.
22 Aug 1966: Officer Commanding, Far East Strike Wing.
xx Sep 1967: Officer Commanding, Far East Flying Wing.
24 Mar 1969: PSO to AOC in C, Strike Command.
23 Dec 1970: Military Assistant to Chairman - Military Committee, HQ NATO.
14 Dec 1973: Officer Commanding, RAF Laarbruch.
xx xxx xxxx – 1 Jan 1975: ADC HM to the Queen.
xx xxx 1975: Attended Royal College of Defence Studies.
3 Jan 1976: Director of Operations (Air Support)(RAF)
28 Dec 1977: SASO, HQ Strike Command.
11 Apr 1980: AOC, No 1 Group
1 Jan 1983: Air Member for Supply and Organisation
10 May 1986 – 3 Aug 1989: Air ADC to HM the Queen.
14 Aug 1986: UK Military Representative, HQ NATO
xx Nov 1989: Pilot, No ? AEF
12 Nov 2001: Honorary Air Commodore, No 7630 (VR) Intelligence Sqn, RAuxAF.
23 Nov 2004: Relinquished his RAFVR(T) Commission
2 Jan 2007: Re-appointed Honorary Air Commodore, No 7630 (VR) Intelligence Sqn, RAuxAF. (until 11 Nov 2007)
Sir Michael Knight joined the RAFVR as a member of the University of Liverpool UAS in 1951 being commissioned into the RAF in 1954 for his National Service. He was awarded a Permanent Commission in 1956.
In 1961 he took command of No 32 Squadron equipped with Canberra B Mk 15's . This unit formed part of the Akrotiri Strike Wing.
Retiring from the RAF at his own request, he continued his service flying by being commissioned into the RAFVR(T) as a Fg Off. In this capacity he continued to fly Air Cadets at weekends as a pilot with one of the RAF's Air Experience Flights until 23 November 2004. He also holds a number of directorships and offices of a wide variety of companies and organisations in commercial, academic and voluntary fields. On 13 September 1996, he had the privilage of overseeing the roll-out of the Yorkshire Air Museum's Halifax 'Friday the 13th'. He was awarded the Founder’s Medal of the Air League in 2005. He was made a Freeman of the City of London in 1989 and a Liveryman of the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators in 1993, having been appointed an Upper Freeman from 1990 to 1993.
