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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Air Vice-Marshal F R Bird (33526)
Frank
Ronald
b: 18 Nov 1918
r: 18 Nov 1973
d: 20 Jan 1983
CB
– 12 Jun 1971, DSO – 16 Feb 1945, DFC – 2 Jun 1944, AFC
- 1 Jan 1958, FRAeS.
Plt
Off (P):
23 Dec 1939, Fg Off (WS): 23 Dec
1940, Flt Lt: 23 Dec 1941?,
Act Sqn Ldr: xx xxx xxxx, Act Wg
Cdr: 30 Jul 1944?, Sqn Ldr (WS):
30 Dec 1944,
Flt Lt: 21 May 1946 [23 Jun 1943],
Sqn Ldr: 1 Oct 1946,
Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1951,
Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1958, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1964,
Act AVM: 11 Apr 1968, AVM: 1
Jul 1968.
xx
Aug 1935: Aircraft Apprentice, No 1 School of Technical Training, RAF Halton.
8 Sep 1938: Flight Cadet, 'A' Sqn, RAF College.
23
Dec 1939: Appointed
to a Permanent Commission.
23 Dec 1939: Attended Instructors' Course, CFS.
xx
xxx 1940:
Instructor, No 14 SFTS
xx xxx 1941: Experimental Flying
xx
xxx 1943:
Flight Commander, No 105 Sqn.
30 Jul 1944: Officer Commanding, No 105 Sqn.
xx Mar 1945: Attended Empire Test Pilots School
xx
xxx
1945:
Test Pilot, A. & A.E.E.
xx
xxx 1946:
Staff, RAF College.
xx
xxx 1948:
Member, Permanent Commissioning Board.
xx
xxx 1950:
Attended RAF Staff College.
xx
xxx 1951:
Staff Officer - Standardisation, British Joint Services Mission,
Washington.
xx
xxx 1954:
Officer Commanding, Fighter Test Sqn, A. & A.E.E.
15 Apr 1957: Air Staff - Plans, HQ Bomber Command.
xx
xxx 1957:
Officer Commanding, RAF Gaydon.
29
Feb 1960:
Deputy Director of Operations - Bomber and Reconnaissance.
13
Aug 1963:
Attended Canadian National Defence College.
xx
xxx 1964:
Commandant, A. & A.E.E.
11
Apr 1968:
Director-General of Organisation (RAF).
3
May 1971:
Assistant Chief of Staff (Automated Data Processing Division), SHAPE.
One of 'Trenchard's Brats', he joined the RAF as a
apprentice in 1935, he was awarded a scholarship to the RAF College at Cranwell
in 1938, graduating shortly after the outbreak of WW2.
He spent much of the early war years as a QFI and on experimental flying.
However, he eventually
joined an operational squadron in 1943 when he was posted to No 105 at Marham.
With 105, he flew Mosquitoes as part of the Pathfinder Force.
During his time as OC, Fighter Test Squadron, he conducted tests on the Hunter, Javelin, Swift and Jet Provost. Retiring in 1973, he became Treasurer of St. Margaret's Hall, Oxford, being made a Fellow in 1978.
“Acting Wing Commander Frank Ronald BIRD, D.F.C. (33526), R.A.F., 105
Sqn.
This officer has completed a very large number of operational missions
including many attacks on targets in the Ruhr area. He has set the finest example of courage and resolution in
pressing home his attacks, often in the face of fierce enemy fire, making his
bombing runs with great steadiness and accuracy. This officer has rendered much
valuable and devoted service.”
(London Gazette – 16 February 1945)
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