D W Bayne

Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Acting Air Commodore D W Bayne (26077)

David Walter b: 17 Apr 1908 r: 29 Aug 1955 d: 11 Jun 1986

Plt Off: 15 Dec 1928, Fg Off: 15 Jun 1930 (reduced to 15 Feb 1931 wef 28 Jun 1932), Flt Lt: 15 Feb 1935, Sqn Ldr: 1 Aug 1938, Act Wg Cdr: 22 Jul 1940, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Dec 1940, Act Gp Capt: 9 Feb 1943, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1943, Wg Cdr (WS): 9 Aug 1943, Wg Cdr: 1 Oct 1946, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1947, Act A/Cdre (unpaid): 12 Aug 1948, A/Cdre: Not retained.

2 Sep 1926: Flight Cadet, 'A' Sqn, RAF College.

14 Jan 1927: Dropped a term (for cribbing in exams)

15 Dec 1928: Pilot, No 12 Sqn. (Fox) (arrived 14 Jan 1929)

9 Sep - 16 Dec 1929: Attached Electrical & Wireless School (Short Signals Course - failed)

21 Jan 1930: Pilot, No 5 Sqn. (Bristol F2B - Quetta)

1 Sep 1933: Pilot, No 20 Sqn.

14 Mar 1935: Supernumerary, RAF Depot (Leave until 4 Jul 1935)

6 Jun 1935: Flight Commander, No 3 Sqn. (arrived 31 May 1935)

25 Jul 1935: Supernumerary - non effective (sick), RAF Depot - whilst in Hospital

15 Jan 1937: Supernumerary, Temporary Admin duties, RAF Depot

20 Feb 1937: Placed on half pay list, scale A (having exhausted full-pay sick leave)

1 Jul 1937: Admin duties, RAF Depot

22 Dec 1937: 'B' Flight Commander, No 3 Sqn.

8 Aug 1938: Squadron Leader - Administrative, RAF Kenley.

xx Sep 1939: Operations Officer, RAF Kenley

28-31 Jan 1940: Attended Sector Controllers' Course, No 1 RAF Depot

20-22 Apr 1940: Officer Commanding, RAF Kenley (Temporary)

17 May 1940: Officer Commanding, No 257 Sqn

22 Jul 1940: Air Staff - Operations, HQ Fighter Command.

23 Feb 1941: Officer Commanding, RAF Ford

21 May 1941: Supernumerary, No 1 RAF Depot

18 Jun 1941: Officer Commanding, No 250 Wing

4 Jul 1941: Operations Officer, No 250 Wing

1 Dec 1941: Flying Sector Commander, Port Said

20 May 1942: Supernumerary, RAF Shandur

22 May 1942: Officer Commanding, RAF Shandur

8 Dec 1942: Officer Commanding, No 29 Sector Operations Room

9 Feb 1943: SASO, HQ No 212 Group.

26 Jun 1943: Attended Course No 10, Middle East Staff College, Haifa.

4 Sep 1943: Supernumerary, AHQ Levant

16 Dec 1943: Supernumerary, HQ Middle East Command.

11 Mar 1944: Group Captain - Training, HQ Middle East Command.

19 Jun 1944: Supernumerary (N/E sick), No 1 Personnel Holding Unit (disembarked 5 Jul 1944, leave until 27 Jul 1944)

25 Sep 1944: Supernumerary, RAF Haverfordwest

7 Oct 1944: Officer Commanding, RAF Chivenor

24 Jul 1945: Directing Staff, RAF Staff College

6 Jun 1946: Awarded the symbol 'psa' on completing a tour of duty as Directing Staff at an RAF Staff College

28 Oct 1946: Deputy Director of Staff Duties

1 Feb 1947: Deputy Director of Command and Staff Training.

1 Jun 1948: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit (for briefing)

12 Aug 1948: Air Attaché, Rio De Janeiro (Caracus).

2 Jul 1951: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit (disembarked 16 Jul 1951)

17 Jul 1951: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit attached Air Ministry for temporary duty

22 Jul 1951: Supernumerary, pending posting, Air Ministry Unit (leave 24 Jul - 21 Sep 1951)

28 Sep 1951: Deputy Director of Air Foreign Liaison.

24 Jun - 7 Jul 1953: Attended No 12 Pilot Refresher Course, RAF Balcross

1 Aug 1955: Supernumerary pending retirement, Air Ministry Unit

On 15 June 1932, he was tried by a General Court Marshal at Quetta charged with performing aerobatics at an altitude of less than.2,000 ft contrary to India Standing Orders and was found guilty, being sentenced to losing 191 places' in seniority.

He was injured on 25 July 1935 whilst flying Bulldog, K2870, when he crashed during a night landing after fog had suddenly formed and was initially admitted to Addenbrooks Hospital, Cambridge before being transferred to the RAF Hospital at Halton the following day.

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