William Edward Theak
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1945
NPG x185634
Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
William Edward b: 22 Aug 1898 r: 17 Mar 1954 d: 28 Jan 1955
CB – 1 Jan 1948, CBE – 1 Jan 1944, MiD – 1 Jan 1941, MiD – 2 Jun 1943,
(Army): - (T) 2Lt (P): 20 Apr 1917, (T) 2Lt: 11 Jul 1917, (T) Capt: 21 Mar 1918.
(RAF): - Lt: 1 Apr 1918, Fg Off: 28 May 1920, Flt Lt: 30 Jun 1923, Sqn Ldr: 1 Nov 1931, Wg Cdr: 1 Apr 1937, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Jun 1940,Act A/Cdre: xx xxx xxxx, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jun 1943, Gp Capt: 1 Dec 1943, Act AVM: 24 Feb 1944, A/Cdre (WS): 24 Feb 1945, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1946, (T) AVM: 1 Jan 1946, AVM: 1 Jul 1947.
William Edward Theak
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1945
NPG x185634
20 Apr 1917: Appointed to a Commission on the General List (RFC)
20 Apr 1917: U/T Pilot, RFC
11 Jul 1917: Flying Officer, RFC.
xx Jul 1917: Pilot, No 52 Sqn RFC
21 Mar 1918: Flight Commander, No 52 Sqn RFC.
xx Jun 1918: ?
26 Mar 1920: Transferred to the Unemployed List
28 May 1920: Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flying Officer (Aeroplane Branch).
3 Jun 1920: Pilot, No 12 Sqn.
xx xxx xxxx: Supernumerary?
5 Nov 1920: Pilot, No 8 Sqn.
12 Jan 1923: Pilot, No 28 Sqn.
xx xxx xxxx: Supernumerary?
17 Apr 1925: Flight Commander/Signals Officer?, No 13 Sqn.
19 Aug 1928: Attended Electrical and Wireless School.
19 Jan 1931: Attended RAF Staff College
xx xxx xxxx: Supernumerary?
8 Jan 1932: Chief Signals Officer, HQ RAF Mediterranean.
2 Jan 1936: Attended Army Staff College, Camberley.
4 Jan 1938: Officer Commanding, No 7 Sqn.
2 Jan 1939: Directing Staff, RAF Staff College
xx xxx 1939: Served in France (AASF/Air Comp?)
24 Apr 1940: Transferred to the Technical Branch.
4 Jul 1940: Chief Signals Officer, HQ Bomber Command
24 Feb 1944: AOC, No 60 (Signals) Group
6 Oct 1945: Director-General of Signals.
16 Apr 1949: AOA, HQ Middle East Air Force
18 Jun 1951: AOC, No 90 (Signals) Group.
He died in Suffolk.
Recommendation for the award of Commander of the Order of the British Empire
"THEAKE, William Edward, A/A/C (Royal Air Force) - Bomber Command Headquarters.
This officer has been Chief Signals Officer at the Command since July 1940 and has been responsible for the successful introduction and operational use of many entirely new and highly complicated devices. The smooth working and expansion of the signals organisation is due in no small extent to his ability and industry."
(Source - Air 2/8958)
This page was last updated on 08/09/23