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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Air Commodore D L Blackford (09057)
Douglas Leslie (Gerry) b: 1 Jul 1895 r: 12 Feb 1946 d: 11 Dec 1953
MiD - 2 Jun 1943, MiD - 14 Jan 1944, LoM (Cdr) - 5 Jul 1946, also see below
(Army): - (T) 2 Lt: 12 Sep 1914, (T) Lt: 10 Mar 1915, (T) Capt: 5 Oct 1915
(RAF):
- 2
Lt: 5
Jul 1918, Plt Off: 1 Aug 1919 [5 Jul
1918],
(H)
Capt: 5 Jul 1918,
Fg Off: 13 Sep 1920, Flt Lt: 1
Jan 1924, Sqn Ldr: 1 Dec 1932, Wg
Cdr: 1 Jul 1937, (T) Gp Capt: 1
Jun 1940, Act A/Cdre:
23
Oct 1942,
(T) A/Cdre: 1 Jun 1943 [1
Nov 1942
xx xxx xxxx: Cadet, Officer Training Corps
12 Sep 1914 Officer, 12th Service Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
18 Jun 1917: Transferred to General List on assuming duties of an ADC.
15 Sep 1917: ADC to GOC, 24th Division
23 Feb 1918: Relinquished Appointment as ADC to transfer to RFC.
5 Jul 1918: Appointed to Aeroplane & Seaplane Branch, RAF
13 Sep 1920: Awarded Short Service Commission in the rank of Flying Officer (gazetted 8 Oct 1920)
13 Sep 1920: Attended Course of Instruction, No 2 FTS
30 Oct 1920: Attended Instructors' Course, Central Flying School
15
Feb 1921:
QFI, No 2 FTS.
6 Apr 1922: Short Service Commission extended to seven years on the Active List
18
Sep 1924:
Flight Commander, No 1 Sqn. (Snipe I)
?
17
Oct 1925:
Air Staff - Operations, HQ RAF Middle East.
14
Apr 1927:
Supernumerary, HQ Middle East.
19
Sep 1927:
Attended RAF Staff College.
14 Dec 1928: Successively completed the Staff Course and awarded the symbol 'psa'.
17
Dec 1928:
Supernumerary, RAF Depot
25
Jan 1929:
Staff, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence.
xx Jan 1930: Passed the Preliminary Examination in French
18
Oct 1932:
Flight Commander, No 23 Sqn. (Bulldog IIA)
7
Dec 1932:
Officer Commanding, No 32 Sqn. (Bulldog II)
5
Mar 1934:
Supernumerary (non-effective, sick), RAF Depot.
17 Aug 1934: Air Staff, Deputy Directorate of Plans?
xx xxx 1937: UK Air Representative to the League of Nations. (Plans 5, Directorate of Plans)
xx xxx 1940: Deputy Director of Intelligence (1)
xx
xxx 1941:
Director of Intelligence (Security)
xx xxx 1942: Officer Commanding, RAF Benbecula
xx xxx 1943: Air Attaché, Washington
Retired on account of medical unfitness for Air Force service.
BLACKFORD, Douglas Leslie, F/L - Cross of the First Class of the Order of Military Merit (Spain) - reported in Aeroplane, 16 May 1928,
"in recognition of the rescue of Captain Estevez and his mechanic in the desert near Amman in 1926 by the RAF."
"The Estevez flight was a planned Madrid-to-Manilla expedition. Three aircraft were involved. Two (piloted by Captains Loriga and Gallarze) reached Baghdad on 11 April 1926, but his machine (which carried no wireless) did not. The next day the RAF sent four machines from Amman. A Reuters despatch dated 13 April 1926 stated that a British airman had found the missing aircraft 100 miles east of Amman with a note stating that the two occupants had set out on foot for Amman after being forced down by engine trouble. That same day, the other two machines took off for the next leg of the journey, reaching Karachi in 14 April 1926. The Times. of 15 April carried a despatch dated 14 April saying, in part, “The opinion is, however, expressed that there is no need for any particular anxiety, as Captain Estevez speaks Arabic fluently and is walking through grazing country where he and his mechanic are likely to encounter friendly Arab shepherds.” That same day (the 14th) the Emir Abdullah of Jordan despatched personnel with his own automobiles to join the search. The two men were discovered, 25 miles apart, on 17 April. On 20 April 1926 Spanish students marched to the British Embassy in Madrid to show their gratitude, and on 26 April 1926 King Alphonso XIII sent a message to King George V, expressing his thanks for the rescue of Estevez and his mechanic from “their perilous position in the desert”. He declared his intention to bestow decorations on those involved. Subsequently, awards went to F/O J.S.L. Adams, F/L D.L. Blackford, F/O C.K.J. Coggle, LAC R. Driver, LAC R. Duff, F/O A.M. Glover, Corporal G.W. Grayson, A/V/M Sir Oliver Swann, and F/L H.E.P. Wigglesworth." See also “Spain and the Royal Air Force”, Aeroplane of 19 May 1926.
This page was last updated on 01/01/25
A
G Bishop 
