Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


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Air Vice Marshal S D Macdonald (07223)


Somerled Douglas         b: 9 Mar 1899                     r: 15 Mar 1954                     d: 23 Nov 1979

CB - 7 Jun 1951, CBE - 14 Jun 1945, DFC - 12 Jul 1920, MiD - 24 Sep 1941.

(Army):- 3AM: 8 May 1917, (T) 2 Lt (P): 2 Aug 1917, (T) 2 Lt: 26 Oct 1917.

(RAF):- Lt: 1 Apr 1918, Fg Off: 2 Jul 1920 (1 Apr 1918), Flt Lt: 1 Jul 1924, Sqn Ldr: 1 Aug 1934, Act Wg Cdr (unpd): 20 Oct 1937, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1938, (T) Gp Capt:  1 Sep1940, Act A/Cdre: 14 Feb 1943, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jun 1943, Gp Capt (WS): 14 Aug 1943, Gp Capt: 1 Dec 1943, (T) AVM: 1 Jan 1946, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1946, AVM: 1 Jul 1947.

 8 May 1917:           Enlisted as Miscellaneous (Aviator), Recruits Depot, South Farnborough (80301)

xx xxx 1917:            U/T Pilot,

26 Oct 1917:           Flying Officer, RFC.

xx xxx xxxx:             Pilot, No 63 Sqn. (Kurdistan)

xx xxx xxxx:             Pilot, No 72 Sqn.

 1 Mar 1920:           Pilot, No 30 Sqn.

 2 Jul 1920:             Granted a Short Service Commission in the rank of Flying Officer

 9 Oct 1920:            Attended School of Physical Training and Drill

 4 Feb 1921:           Staff/Supernumerary?, RAF Depot.

14 Sep 1923:          Officer, No 3 Armoured Car Company.

 3 Mar 1925:           Flight Commander, No 55 Sqn.

17 Oct 1925:           Flight Commander, No 47 Sqn. (DH9A, Fairey IIIF)

22 May 1928:          Instructors Course, Central Flying School.

 8 Aug 1928:            Flight Commander, Practice Flight, No 24 Sqn.

10 Jan 1929:            Area Examining Officer, HQ Fighting Area.

 1 Aug 1929:            Adjutant/QFI, No 605 (County of Warwick) Sqn Aux AF. (arrived 4 Aug 1929)

21 Jan 1935:            Attended RAF Staff College.

 4 Jan 1936:             Personnel Staff, HQ Coastal Command.

 3 Oct 1936:            Air Staff, HQ RAF Middle East.

xx Oct 1936:            CFI, No 4 FTS.

20 Oct 1937:           Attached to Sudan Defence Force.

xx xxx 1940:            Officer Commanding, No 254 Wing

22 Apr 1940:           Officer Commanding, RAF Khartoum

xx xxx xxxx:             Group Captain - ?, HQ RAF Middle East.

xx xxx 1941:            Officer Commanding, No 3 Wing. (Sudan)

xx xxx xxxx:             Officer Commanding, No 263 Wing.

10 Dec 1941:          Officer Commanding, No 213 Group.

xx xxx xxxx:             Officer Commanding, No 217 Wing.

xx xxx 1941:            Officer Commanding, Bomber Detachment, Iraq.

14 Feb 1943:           Deputy AOA, HQ Middle East Command

xx xxx 1944:            SASO, HQ No 9 Group.

18 Sep 1944:           SASO, HQ No 12 Group.

24 Apr 1946:           AOC, No 11 Group.

19 Oct 1948:           Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Training).

 7 Nov 1950:           Inspector-General of Air Training, Western Union Defence Organisation.

xx xxx 1952:            Head of Air Training Advisory Group, NATO HQ.

He took part in Cairo - Cape Town Flights in 1927.  Commanded a Wing of three Wellesley squadrons in Sudan in operations against the Italians in Ethiopia.

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