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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Reginald
b:
25 Mar 1899
d: 17 May 1944
DFC: 20 Nov 1925, MiD: 8 Jun 1944
(Army): 2 Lt (P): 25 Oct 1917.
(RAF): 2 Lt (P): 1 Apr 1918, Lt: 25 Apr 1919, Fg Off: 4 Aug 1919 [25 Apr 1929], Flt Lt: 1 Jul 1926, Sqn Ldr: 1 Oct 1935, Wg Cdr: 1 Nov 1938, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Mar 1941, Act A/Cdre: 1 Jun 1943, Gp Capt (WS): 1 Dec 1943.
25 Oct 1917: Commissioned into the RFC
xx xxx xxxx: Staff Officer, HQ No 29 Group
15 Apr 1920: Pilot, RAF Base Leuchars/No 205 Sqn.
3 Sep 1923: Pilot, No 31 Sqn.
4 Aug 1925: Armament Officer/Instructor, Armament and Gunnery School.
1 Nov 1926: Seconded for service as ADC to the Governor of the United Provinces.
16 May 1928: Ceased to be seconded for service as ADC to the Governor of the United Provinces.
19 May 1928: Supernumerary, RAF Depot.
19 Dec 1928: Instructor, No 3 FTS
7 Mar 1930: Adjutant/Instructor, Central Flying School.
30 Apr 1932: Flight Commander, No 17 Sqn.
22 Jan 1934: Attended RAF Staff College.
7 Jan 1935: Staff Officer, Directorate of Staff Duties.
15 Jan 1938: Officer Commanding, No 32 Sqn.
18 Jan 1939: Seconded for service with the Turkish Government.
xx Sept 1942: SASO, AHQ Iraq
1 Jun 1943: SASO, HQ No 10 Group.
He was seriously injured in a crash on 23 September 1929 whilst flying Atlas, J9471 of No 3 FTS, his pupil, LAC Lane (364690) being killed.
On 17 May 1944, he took off from Bolt Head in Hurricane W9118 of No 10 Group Communications Flight, whilst carrying out an inspection of units in the group but he hit a balloon cable and crashed near Dartmouth Naval College, Devon, being killed.
PYNE, Reginald, F/O
"in recognition of gallant and distinguished service carried out by the Royal Air Force in Waziristan, March 9, 1925 to May 1, 1925".
For a description of these operations see Dispatch printed in London Gazette of 17 November 1925, reprinted in Aeroplane of 25 November and 2 December 1925.
"The force employed had a Headquarters at Tank plus the following squadrons: No.5 (Army Cooperation) based on Tank, ten Bristol Fighters, 14 officers, 69 airmen; No.27 (Bomber) based on M’ramshaw, eight DH.9A aircraft, 15 officers, 58 airmen; No.60 (Bomber) based on M’ramshaw, eight DH.9A aircraft, 15 officers, 67 airmen.
Air 30/62/1-9 has the following submission for his DFC
"This officer was the first pilot to carry out a night bombing raid over the difficult country of Waziristan and in all carried out nine night raids. He later commanded the night flying flight and showed real leadership, determination and ability in maintaining its high efficiency."
Recommendation for the award of Commander of the Order of the British Empire
PYNE, Reginald., A/A/C. DFC (Royal Air Force) - Allied Expeditionary Air Force, No.10 Group Headquarters - Mention in Despatches - awarded as per London Gazette dated 8 June 1944. Air 2/9003 has recommendation for a CBE, intended for the Birthday Honours List, June 1944 but was probably 'down-graded' due to his death in May.
"This officer has been Senior Air Staff Officer at the Headquarters for ten months and has shown himself to be an exceptionally good staff officer. He has never spared himself and has proved to be loyal, conscientious and very reliable. The work of a Senior Air Staff Officer at a Group Headquarters involves a heavy load of work but this officer has carried out his duties in a most efficient manner and has still made time to pay attention to detail."
This page was last updated on 11/12/22©
