Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
Lewis George LeBlount b: 28 Jul 1894 r: 9 Oct 1945 d: 16 Feb 1971
CBE - 1 Jan 1941, MiD - 11 Jul 1940, GI-Cdr - 29 Sep 1944.
For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here
(RNR/RNAS):- ?: xx xxx 1914, (T) Sub-Lt: 13 Mar 1917, (T) Obs Sub-Lt (P): 10 Apr 1917, (T) Obs Sub-Lt: 30 Aug 1917 [10 Apr 1917], (T) Obs Lt: 31 Dec 1917.
(RAF):- Hon Capt [Lt]: 1 Apr 1918, Capt (G): 1 May 1919, Obs Off: 1 Aug 1919, Flt Lt: 1 Jan 1922, Sqn Ldr: 11 Sep 1929, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1936, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1939, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Mar 1941, Act A/Cdre: 6 Oct 1942?. A/Cdre: Retained.
xx xxx 1910: Sailor/Officer, Merchant Navy.
xx xxx 1914: Sailor,
RNR.
13 Mar 1917: Attached HMS President for service with RNAS.
23 Mar 1917: U/T Observer, Observer School, Eastchurch.
xx Jul 1917: Observer, RNAS Cattewater.
xx xxx xxxx: Observer, Experimental Flight
1 May 1919: Observer Instructor, Torpedo Training School? (East Fortune)
xx Oct 1919: Observer Instructor, Torpedo Training Squadron? (Gosport)
24 Oct 1919: Awarded Short Service Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant (Observer).
1 Feb 1920: Flight Commander (Observer), No 210 Sqn.
1 Oct 1921: Officer Commanding?, Composite Flight, RAF Base, Gosport.
6 Apr 1922: Short Service Commission extended to seven years on the Active List
1 Jun 1922: Flight Commander (Observer), No 3 Sqn.
1 Apr 1923: Staff, RAF Base, Gosport.
15 Sep 1923: U/T Pilot, No 5 FTS.
28 Jan 1924: Attended ? Course, RAF Base, Gosport.
13 May 1925: Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant
?
17 Sep 1928: Attended Flying Boat Pilot's Course, RAF Base, Calshot.
6 Mar 1929: Flight Commander, No 201 Sqn.
3 May 1930: Staff, RAF Training Base, Leuchars.
10 Jan 1931: Supernumerary, No 100 Sqn.
13 Jan 1931: Officer Commanding, No 100 Sqn.
30 Dec 1935: Attached, Joint Directorate of Scientific Research and Technical Development.
8 Nov 1937: Officer Commanding, No 233 Sqn. (Anson I)
5 Jul 1939: Officer Commanding, RAF Calshot
2 Dec 1939: Officer Commanding, No 100 Wing, Shetlands
6 Dec 1939: Officer Commanding, RAF Station Shetlands
25 Sep 1940: Officer Commanding, RAF St Eval
22 Jan 1941: Director of Air/Sea Rescue.
6 Oct 1942: AOC, 25 Group SAAF
20 Jul 1943 Relinquished command of No 25 Group
2 Oct 1943: AOC, No 29 (Training) Group.
xx Jul 1945: Relinquished command of No 29 Group
On 23 Sep 1921 he was flying as the observer in Walrus, N9511 and was severely injured when the machine landed and after running a short distance was thrown back into the air by a slight ridge. On striking the ground the port wheel collapsed and and he was thrown out when the machine turned on to its back.
He died following a car accident in
Dorset.
This page was last updated on 16/03/25©
A C Critchley