Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

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Air Commodore J C Russell

John Cannan                 b: 6 Mar 1895             r: 6 Jan 1943                d: 15 Aug 1956

DSO - 3 Jun 1919, Leo C - 24 Sep 1917, CdeG (B) - 1918, MiD - 1 Jan 1916.

For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here

(Army): - 2 Lt: 23 Aug 1914, (T) Lt: 11 Jul 1915, (T) Capt: 1 Jul 1916, Lt: 1 Jul 1917, (T) Maj: 11 Sep 1917.

(RAF): - (T) Maj [Capt]: 1 Apr 1918, Flt Lt: 4 Aug 1919, Sqn Ldr: 30 Jun 1922, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1930, Act Gp Capt: 10 Apr 1930 - 19 Oct 1931, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1936, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1939.

23 Aug 1914:          Officer, Scottish Cable Signal Company, Scottish Command Signals Companies (Army Troops), Royal Engineers.

22 Nov 1915:          Appointed Flying Officer (Observer), RFC.

 6 Dec 1915:           U/T Pilot, Farnborough

 6 Feb 1916:            U/T Pilot, Central Flying School.

 1 Apr 1916:            Appointed Flying Officer, RFC.

 1 Apr 1916:            Assistant Instructor, Central Flying School.

 1 Jul 1916:              Instructor/Flight Commander, Central Flying School.

22 Sep 1916:           Flight Commander, No 43 Sqn, RFC

14 Nov 1916:         'C' Flight Commander, No 54 Sqn, RFC

 8 Sep 1917:           Officer Commanding, No 32 Sqn. (DH5/SE5A – Western Front)

18 Jul 1918:             Restored to the establishment of the Royal Engineers.

26 Apr 1919:           Officer Commanding, No 20 Sqn. (Bristol F2B – NWF India)

xx Jun 1919:           Officer Commanding (Temporary), No 5 Wing

 1 Aug 1919:           Awarded Permanent Commission as a Captain  

25 Apr 1921:           Staff/Supernumerary?, RAF Depot.

15 Aug 1921:           Supernumerary (Non-effective), RAF Depot

11 Nov 1921:          Staff, RAF Depot

 1 May 1923:           Attended RAF Staff College.

23 Apr 1924:           Officer Commanding, No 3 Sqn. (Woodcock II – Manston/Upavon)

11 - 18 May 1925:        Attached to No 25 Sqn

23 Apr 1926:           Supernumerary, Air Ministry 

1 May 1926:            Staff, Deputy Directorate of Organisation.

 7 Mar 1930:            Chief Staff Officer?, HQ Transjordan and Palestine.

 1 Apr 1930:            Officer Commanding, RAF Amman.

26 Sep 1931:           Staff, RAF Amman.

19 Oct 1931:           SOA?, HQ Transjordan and Palestine.

12 Mar 1934:          Officer Commanding, No 502 (Ulster) Sqn. AuxAF. (Virginia, Wallace – Aldergrove)

14 Jan 1936:            Officer Commanding, RAF Aldergrove.

 9 Nov 1936:            Supernumerary, RAF Aldergrove.

16 Nov 1936:          Officer Commanding, RAF Scampton.

21 Mar 1938:          Officer Commanding, RAF Thorney Island.

 1 Jul 1938 - 1 Jan 1939:    Air ADC to the King

29 Aug 1938:            Officer Commanding (Temporary), HQ No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.

20-21 Sep 1938:       Officer Commanding, RAF Thorney Island.

21 Sep 1938:            Officer Commanding (Temporary), HQ No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.

13 Oct 1938:            Officer Commanding, RAF Thorney Island.

13 Nov 1938:           Officer Commanding, HQ No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.

 1 Jan 1939:              AOC, HQ No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.

16 Jan 1939:             Attached to Air Ministry.

18 Feb 1939:            AOC, AHQ Australia.

18 Mar 1940:           AOC, No 1 (Indian) Group

 1 May 1942:            AOC, No 223 Group

 7 Jun 1942:              Posted to Home Establishment

Educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh, he was a keen Rugby player, playing for the RAF and captaining the team for four years from 1924.

This page was last updated on 16/03/25©

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