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Air Vice-Marshal C E H Allen (03117)   


AVM C E H AllenCharles Edward Hamilton

b: 3 Jan 1899              r: 15 Mar 1954                    d: 27 Oct 1975

CB - 1 Jan 1945, DFC – 3 Dec 1918, WL3 – 27 Jun 1947, BA, M I CEng Mech E.

For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here

(Army): - 3AM: 3 May 1917, (T) 2Lt (P): 13 Sep 1917, (T) 2 Lt: 25 Jan 1918.

(RAF): - Lt: 1 Apr 1918, (T) Capt: 4 Oct 1918 - 1 May 1919, Fg Off: 4 Aug 1919, Flt Lt: 1 Jul 1925, Sqn Ldr: 1 Aug 1935, Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1938, Act Gp Capt: 11 Jul 1940, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Dec 1940, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Nov 1942, Gp Capt (WS): 1 May 1943, Gp Capt: 1 Dec 1943, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1947, Act AVM: 23 Jul 1949, AVM: Retained

 3 May 1917:               Cadet, RFC (79920), Reserve Depot, Farnborough

18 May 1917:              No 2 Officer Training Wing, Winchester

27 Jul 1917:                 U/T Pilot, School of Military Aeronautics, Oxford

 9 Sep 1917:                Appointed to a Commission on the General List (RFC)

25 Sep 1917:               U/T Pilot, No 41 Training Sqn, RFC

24 Oct 1917:               U/T Pilot, No 44 Training Sqn, RFC

25 Jan 1918:                Appointed Flying Officer, RFC

25 Jan 1918:                Advanced Training, No 51 Training Sqn, RFC

 3 Feb 1918:                Advanced Training, No 44 Training Sqn, RFC

 4 Mar 1918:                Advanced Training, No 4 School of Aerial Gunnery, RFC

20 Mar 1918:               Pilot, No 25 Sqn, RFC/RAF

 1 Apr 1919:                 Home Establishment (Leave)

24 Apr 1919:                For 15 Training Sqn MA [sic]

 2 Jun 1919:                  No 12 Group Non-effective Officer Pool

21 Jul 1919:                  Pilot, No 15 Training Sqn

18 Aug 1919:               Attached, CFS for course of instruction

1 Aug 1919:                 Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Lieutenant (Aeroplane Branch)

18 Oct 1919:               Embarked on SS Kenilworth Castle for leave in South Africa

18 Dec 1919:               Placed on half-pay list.

18 Feb 1920:               Restored to full pay

18 Feb 1920:               Flying Instructor, No 1 FTS

20 Mar - 25 Jun 1920:               Attended Instructors' Course, Central Flying School

28 Jun 1920:                Flying Instructor, No 2 Flying Training School

28 Nov 1921:               Pilot, No 39 Sqn

19 Dec 1921:               Instructor, No 2 Flying Training School

 5 Feb - 28 Apr 1923:            Attended Air Pilotage Course, RAF Calshot (Passed - 78.7%)

14 Sep 1923:               Pilot, No 27 Sqn

xx xxx 1925:                Flight Commander, No 27 Sqn.

 5 Sep 1927:               Attended Officers' Engineering Course, Home Aircraft Depot.

 8 Nov 1928:              Awarded a CFS category of 'B' as a flying instructor.

30 Jun 1929:               Successfully completed the Engineering Course and awarded the symbol 'E'

 8 Jul 1929:                 Attended Course 'A', Cambridge University

xx Aug 1931:              Successfully completed Course 'A' and awarded the Symbol 'E*'

 4 Aug 1931:               Engineer duties, Experimental Section, RAE

 8 - 12 Aug 1932:       Attached for temporary duty, Home Aircraft Depot.

22 Aug 1932:              Engineer duties, Home Aircraft Depot.

27 Feb 1933:              Engineer duties, No 2 (Apprentice) Wing, No 1 School of Technical Training.

22 Aug 1934:              Flight Commander, No 142 Sqn

22 - 30 Aug 1934:            Attached,  No 1 School of Technical Training (Apprentices) for temporary  duty

27 Sep - 17 Oct 1934:      Attended Refresher Course, CFS.

 3 Oct 1935:                Attached to SHQ, RAF Andover, pending posting

18 Nov 1935:              Supernumerary, No 11 Flying Training School

17 Jan 1936:                Officer Commanding, Advanced Training Sqn, No 11 Flying Training School

 1 Oct 1936:                Engineer Officer, RAF Seletar

20 Mar 1939:               Engineering Staff Officer, AHQ Far East.

24 Apr 1940:               Transferred to the Technical Branch.

29 Apr 1940:               Supernumerary, No 1 RAF Depot

 5 Jun 1940:                 Engineering duties, Directorate of Repair and Maintenance

11 Jul 1940:                 Deputy Director of Repair and Maintenance

 1 Aug 1940:                Deputy Director of Repair and Maintenance (Aircraft), MAP

17 Aug 1940:               Supernumerary, RAF Henlow

30 Aug 1940:               Officer Commanding, RAF Henlow

10 Feb 1943:                Officer Commanding, RAF Cosford

26 Sep 1946:               SASO, HQ, No 43 Group

19 - 23 Jul 1948:        Attached, School of Combined Operations for Special Senior Course

14 - 18 Mar 1949:      Attached, No 1 Technical College for No 3 Short Senior Combined Technical Course

15 Jun 1949:                Supernumerary, No 43 Group

 8 Jul 1949:                  Supernumerary, HQ Middle East Air Force.

23 Jul 1949:                 Senior Technical Staff Officer, HQ Middle East Air Force.

23 Mar 1952:               Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit (on embarkation for UK)

 6 Apr 1952:                Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit on arrived in UK (leave from 8 Apr - 18 May 1952)

19 May 1952:              Director-General of Technical Services.

15 Feb 1954:               Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit (pending retirement)

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross

“Lieut. Charles Edward Hamilton Allen. (FRANCE).

This officer has carried out many long distance photographic flights and reconnaissances.  In these operations he has invariably shown marked determination, and has proved himself a gallant and skilful fighter.  On 8th August he undertook a photographic reconnaissance which was urgently required; several previous attempts had been made to carry it out without success owing to adverse weather conditions. Lieut. Allen, flying through clouds and handicapped by a high, wind, successfully reached the objective and completed the reconnaissance. His return journey was an especially noteworthy flight, owing to the great banks of clouds, in one of which he spun from 18,000 feet to 4,000 feet.”

(London Gazette – 3 December 1918)

This entry was last updated on 01/05/25©

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