J O Andrews

Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Vice-Marshal J O Andrews (02036)

J O Andrews - 1915

John Oliver b: 20 Jul 1896 r: 17 Apr 1945 d: 29 May 1989

CB - 11 Jun 1942, DSO - 26 Jul 1917, MC - 20 Oct 1916, Bar - 11 Dec 1916. MiD - 1 Jan 1916, MiD - 4 Jan 1917, MiD - 11 Dec 1917, Montenegrin Silver Medal for Bravery - 9 Mar 1917, RUSI Essay Gold Medallist - 1932

(Army): - (T) 2 Lt: 9 Oct 1914, 2 Lt: 23 Nov 1915 [4 Nov 1915], (T) Capt: 30 Apr 1916, Lt: 1 Jul 1917.

(RAF): - Capt: 1 Apr 1918, (T) Maj: 7 May 1918 - 1 May 1919, Flt Lt: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918], Sqn Ldr: 1 Jul 1924, Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1932, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1937, A/Cdre: 1 Sep 1939, Act AVM: 18 Nov 1940, (T) AVM: 10 Jan 1941, AVM: 14 Apr 1942 [10 Jan 1941].

xx xxx xxxx: Cadet, Manchester University OTC

9 Oct 1914: Officer, 15th Battalion, The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)

28 Nov 1914: Observer (seconded), No 1 Sqn RFC (Netheravon)

xx Jan 1915: Observer (seconded), No 5 Sqn RFC. (Avro 504 - Western Front)

21 Oct 1915: Appointed Flying Officer (Observer), RFC.

4 Oct 1915: U/T Pilot, British Flying School, Le Crotoy

9 Oct 1915: Transferred to Home Establishment

27 Oct 1915: Station Farnborough

16 Dec 1915: U/T Pilot, No 1 Reserve Squadron

16 Dec 1915: Appointed as Flying Officer, RFC

16 - 18 Dec 1915: Attended CFS

29 Jan 1916: Pilot, No 24 Sqn RFC. (DH2 - Western Front)

30 Apr 1916: Flight Commander, No 24 Sqn RFC. (DH2 - Western Front)

5 Dec 1916: Transferred to Home Establishment

18 Dec 1916: Attended Fighting Instructors' Course, Armament Course, Hythe.

11 Jan 1917: Fighting Instructor, No 25 ?

12 Jan 1917: Fighting Instructor, No 43 Reserve Sqn

4 Mar 1917: Flight Commander, No 66 Sqn RFC. (Pups - Western Front)

23 Jul 1917: Transferred to Home Establishment

10 Sep 1917: Officer Commanding, No 11 Training Squadron (Scampton)

xx Nov - xx Dec 1917: Attended School of Special Flying, Gosport

14 Mar 1918: Flight Commander, No 70 Sqn RFC/RAF. (Camel - Western Front)

7 May 1918: Officer Commanding, No 209 Sqn. (Camel - Western Front)

12 Sep 1918: Transferred to Home Establishment

xx Sep 1918: Awaiting Disposal, Aegean Group

14 Oct 1918: Awaiting Disposal, HQ Mediterranean Group

30 Oct 1918: Officer Commanding, No 222 Sqn.

8 Nov 1918: Officer Commanding, No 220 Sqn.

20 Dec 1918: Officer Commanding, No 221 Sqn. (DH9/9A - South Russia)

29 Dec 1918: Embarked on HMS Riviera for the Caspian

xx Apr 1919: Invalided home after contracting Typhus

1 Aug 1919: Resigned his Commission in the Army.

1 Aug 1919: Granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

9 Oct 1919: Supernumerary (pending embarkation), HQ RAF Halton

17 Oct 1919: Departed for Middle East en-route to India

27 Oct 1919: Departed Middle East for India on HT Caledonia

4 Nov 1919: Arrived in India

16 Nov 1919: Flight Commander, No 114 Sqn.

1 Apr 1920: Flight Commander, No 1 Sqn. (Snipes)

1 Sep 1920: Supernumerary, RAF Depot whilst attending Emmanuel College, Cambridge University. (Mechanical Sciences)

30 Jun 1922: Supernumerary, School of Photography whilst attending Engineering Course at RAE

3 Jul - 30 Sep 1922: Attended Engineering Course, RAE

1 Oct 1922: Supernumerary, RAF Depot whilst attending Course 'B', Imperial College of Science, London University.

xx Jan 1923: Passed Preliminary Examination in French.

1 Aug 1923: Technical duties, School of Technical Training (Men).

3/4 Jun 1924: Passed the examination and qualified as an Interpreter 2nd Class in French.

22 Jul - 22 Aug 1924: Attended Short Flying Instructors' Course, CFS and categorised 'A1'

8 Sep 1924: Chief Instructor, No 2 FTS.

11 Mar 1925: Technical duties, Aeronautical Committee of Guarantee (Germany)

30 Apr 1926: Awaiting course at RAF Staff College.

10 May 1926: Attended No 5 Staff Course, RAF Staff College.

15 Jun 1926: Passed the Preliminary Examination in German.

30 Jul 1927: Supernumerary, RAF Depot

1 Sep 1927: Attached, Air Ministry (Dept of CAS) for temporary duties pending posting

15 Sep 1927: Air Staff duties, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence.

xx Jun 1928: Qualified as Interpreter 1st Class (French)

1 Jun 1931: Supernumerary, RAF Base Calshot pending Flying Boat Course,

7 Jul 1931: Attended Flying Boat Course, RAF Base Calshot

xx Jan 1932: Passed the examination and qualified as an Interpreter 1st Class in German.

3 Jan 1932: Flight Commander, No 210 Sqn. (Southampton – Pembroke Dock)

xx Jun 1932: Re-qualified as Interpreter 1st Class (French)

10 Aug 1932: Officer Commanding, No 209 Sqn. (Iris – Mount Batten)

27 Aug - 1 Oct 1932: Attached, No 210 Sqn

1 Oct 1932: Officer Commanding, No 209 Sqn. (Iris – Mount Batten)

31 Dec 1932: Officer Commanding, RAF Mount Batten.

21 Feb 1934: Supernumerary (Leave), RAF Mount Batten.

15 Mar 1934: Supernumerary, HQ, No 1 Air Defence Group.

15 Mar 1934: Temporary duty, Air Ministry (Dept of CAS)

3 Apr 1934: Air Staff duties, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence.

xx Jun 1936: Re-qualified as German Interpreter, 1st Class.

4 Jan 1937: Supernumerary, RAF Depot whilst on temporary duty with Directorate of Staff Duties.

12 Jan 1937: Supernumerary, RAF Depot whilst attending Imperial Defence College.

20 Dec 1937: Supernumerary (pending posting), No 1 RAF Depot.

12 Feb 1938: Supernumerary, HQ RAF Far East.

19 Mar 1938: Senior Air Staff Officer, HQ RAF Far East.

2 Oct 1939: Supernumerary, No 1 Receiving Centre

18 Oct 1939: Supernumerary, HQ No 2 Group

26 Oct 1939: SASO, HQ No 2 Group

18 Dec 1939: Director of Armament Development, Air Ministry.

1 Aug 1940: Director of Armament Development, Ministry of Aircraft Production.

31 Aug 1940: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit whilst on temporary duties with Directorate of Operational Requirements.

18 Nov 1940: Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operational Requirements and Tactics)

4 Feb 1941: AOC, No 13 (Fighter) Group.

27 Nov 1942: Supernumerary, No 12 (Fighter) Group.

29 Nov 1942: AOC, No 12 (Fighter) Group.

5 Jul 1943: AOA, HQ Flying Training Command.

15 Jan 1945: Supernumerary, No 1 Personnel Holding Unit (pending retirement)

The son of a Manchester brewer he attended Owens School from 1908 to 1911 and later Manchester High School, 1911 and 1912. Joining the Royal Scots Guards he volunteered as an observer in November 1914. Retraining as a pilot (RAeC Certificate 1924 gained on 15 October 1915), he was posted to No 24 Squadron after military pilot training back in the UK. As a fighter pilot he gained 12 confirmed victories and was leading the patrol in which his CO, Maj L Hawker VC was shot down and killed by Manfred von Ricthofen.

Citation for the award of the DSO

"2nd Lt. (temp. Capt.) John Oliver Andrews, M.C., R. Scots. & R.F.C.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in leading offensive patrols with great dash and success on over thirty occasions, and. taking part in over twenty-two combats. His, skill and courage in attacking and destroying hostile aircraft have at all times been magnificent"

(London Gazette - 24 Jul 1917)

Citation for the award of the MC

"2nd Lt. (temp. Capt.) John Oliver Andrews, R. Scots and R.F.C.

For conspicuous gallantry and skill. He is a fine leader of offensive patrols, and has himself shot down four enemy machines. On one occasion he got within 25 yards of an enemy machine under heavy fire and brought it down a wreck"

(London Gazette - 20 Oct 1916)

Citation for the award of the Bar to the MC

"2nd Lt. (Temp Capt.) John Oliver Andrews, M.C., R. Scots and R.F.C.

For conspicuous gallantry in action. He showed great courage and determination in leading successful patrols and attacks on hostile aircraft, and has now accounted for his ninth machine. On one occasion he followed a machine down to 800 feet, on another he went down to 500-feet. (The Military Cross was awarded in London Gazette dated 20th Oct.,1916)."

(London Gazette - 8 Dec 1917)

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