Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Vice-Marshal M Thomas

Meredith                      b: 6 Jul 1892                r: 18 Apr 1946                        d: 20 May 1984

CSI - xx xxx 1946  CBE - 1 Jan 1941, DFC - 10 Oct 1922, AFC - 3 Jun 1919, MiD - 19 Apr 1921, MiD - 28 Oct 1921.

(Army): -  2 Dec 1915, (T) Lt:  1 Jun 1917, (T) Capt: 29 Sep 1917.

(RAF): -(T) Capt [Lt]: 1 Apr 1918, Capt: xx xxx xxxx,  Flt Lt: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918],  Sqn Ldr: 1 Jan 1926, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1934,  Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1938, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Dec 1940,  Act AVM: 2 Aug 1943 - 22 Jan 1946, A/Cdre: 1 Dec 1943, AVM: Retained.

xx xxx 1914:   Soldier, The Queen’s Westminster Rifles.

 2 Dec 1915:   Officer, The Welsh Regiment.

xx Oct 1916:    U/T Pilot, RFC.

 5 May 1917:    Embarked for France

 6 May 1917:     Pilot, No 41 Sqn RFC

30 Sep 1917:   Flight Commander, No 41 Sqn. (FE8, DH5, SE5A – Western Front)

11 Dec 1917:   Returned to Home Establishment

xx xxx xxxx:      Instructor, ?

 7 Aug 1919:   Returned to Home Establishment

14 Aug 1919:   Pilot, No 43 Sqn, Germany.

29 Aug 1919:   Returned to Home Establishment

24 Oct 1919:    Awarded Short Service Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant (Aeroplane). 

xx xxx 1920:     Awaiting disposal, HQ Mesopotamian Wing.

13 Feb 1920:    Flight Commander, No 6 Sqn. (RE8, Bristol F2B – Mosul)

May/Jun 1921:  Flight Commander, No 30 Sqn. (DH9A – Baghdad)  

 5 Nov 1922:    Supernumerary, RAF depot.

 1 May 1923:    Attended RAF Staff College.

 5 May 1924:    SD 2, Deputy Directorate of Staff Duties.

 1 Sep 1928:    QFI, RAF (Cadet) College.

 7 Dec 1931:     Placed on half pay list, scale A

24 Dec 1931:   Attended Army Staff College, Quetta.

xx Dec 1933:     Air Staff, HQ RAF India.

xx xxx xxxx:      Returned to Home Establishment

24 May 1937:  Officer Commanding, No 6 Armament Training Camp/Station, Warmwell.

 5 May 1938:    Supernumerary, HQ No 5 (Bomber) Group.

16 May 1938:   SASO, HQ No 5 (Bomber) Group.

 7 Aug 1940:    Director of Technical Training.

24 Dec 1941:   SASO, HQ Flying Training Command.  

 2 Aug 1943:    AOC, No 23 (Training) Group.

 8 Mar 1944:    AOC, AHQ India.

In WW1,by the time he was returned to the home establishment as a instructor he had achieved five confirmed victories.