Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Commodore H F V Battle (06208)

Henry Frederic Vulliamy     b: 18 Sep 1899               r: 13 Oct 1946                        d: 4 Oct 1981

OBE - 11 Jul 1940, DFC - 8 May 1936, MiD - 28 Oct 1921, MiD - 6 Jun 1924.

(Army):-- AM3 (Cadet): 19 Sep 1917, (T) 2 Lt (P): 27 Feb 1918.

(RAF):-- (T) 2 Lt (P): 1 Apr 1918, (T) 2 Lt: 10 May 1918, Plt Off: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918], Fg Off: 16 Sep 1919, Flt Lt: 1 Jan 1927, Sqn Ldr: 1 Dec 1935, Wg Cdr: 1 Nov 1938, Act Gp Capt: 1 Nov 1940, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1941, Act A/Cdre: 15 Jun 1943, Gp Capt (WS): 15 Dec 1943, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Oct 1944, Gp Capt: 1 Dec 1944, A/Cdre: Retained.

19 Sep 1917:             Cadet, RFC (99601).

 7 Feb 1918:              Appointed Flying Officer, RFC.

18 Mar 1918:             Advanced pilot training, No 70 Training Sqn RFC/RAF

26 Jun 1918:              Attended No 1 Fighting School (until 20 Jul)

28 Jul 1918:               Attended Central Flying School. (until 11 Aug)

29 Aug 1918:             Pilot, No 60 Sqn. (until 20 Sep)

3 Dec 1918:                No 30 Training Depot Station (until 4 Dec)

7 Dec 1918:                CDP (London) (until 13 Jun 1919)  

 9 Mar 1920:              Pilot, No 30 Sqn.

21 Mar 1922:             Supernumerary, RAF Depot.

 1 Nov 1922:              Staff, A. & A.E.E.

 5 Dec 1922:              Granted a Permanent Commission in rank of Flying Officer. (wef 16 Sep 1919)

 3 - 24 Feb 1923:            Attended Hygiene Course, Aldershot (Pass - 84%)

24 Jul 1923:                Pilot, No 22 Sqn.

12 Apr 1926:              Staff, HQ Wessex Bombing Area.

14 Sep -14 Dec 1926:        Attended Air Pilotage Course (Pass - 83%)

 7 Aug 1928:               Aircraft Engineering Course, Home Aircraft Depot.

30 Jun 1930:               Successfully completed the Specialist Engineering Course (Pass - 74%) and awarded the symbol 'E'

 7 Oct 1930:               Engineering Officer, Aircraft Depot, India

22 Feb 1934:              Flight Commander, No 39 Sqn.

29 Jun - 6 Aug 1934:        Officer Commanding (Temporary), No 39 Sqn

12 Aug - 20 Aug 1934:     Officer Commanding (Temporary), No 39 Sqn

20 Oct 1934:              Officer Commanding, 'C' Flight, No 11 Sqn.

18 May - 7 Oct 1935:            Officer Commanding, No 11 Sqn (Temporary)

15 Oct 1935:               Proceeded to UK on leave

21 Jan 1936:               Attended RAF Staff College. (awarded  Symbol 'psa')

 2 Jan 1937:                Supernumerary, No 34 Sqn.

 5 Jan 1937:                Officer Commanding, No 34 Sqn.

24 Oct 1938:               Organisation Staff, HQ Bomber Command

xx Apr 1941:               Officer Commanding, RAF Swanton Morley.

xx May 1942:              Technical Liaison Officer to the Committee for Research and Development, Ministry of Aircraft Production

xx Jul 1942:                 Chief Overseer, Ministry of Aircraft Production

24 Dec 1943:               Specialist Symbol 'E' withdrawn

xx Aug 1944:               Senior Air Staff Officer, HQ, No.38 Group.

14 Mar 1945:              AOC, No 228 Group.

1 May 1946:               AOC, No 3 (Indian) Group.

16 Jun 1946:               Supernumerary, No 1 PDC

 1 Aug 1946:               Supernumerary, No 1 PHU (pending retirement)

After leaving Gresham's School in June 1917, he began work as an apprentice at the Royal Aircraft Factory, Farnborough but three months later left to become a cadet in the RFC.

He qualified for RAeC Certificate No 6463 on 22 April 1918.

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross

"BATTLE, Henry Frederick Vulliamy, S/L

in recognition of gallant and distinguished service rendered in connection with the Mohmand Operation in North West Frontier, India, during the period 15th/16th August to 15th/16th October, 1935."

(Source - London Gazette 8 May 1936)

This entry was last updated on 26/09/26^©

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