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Air Vice-Marshal K V Garside (36107)


Kenneth Vernon             b: 13 Aug 1913                     r: 23 Oct 1965                     d: 2 Aug 1986

CB – 2 Jun 1962, DFC – 2 Jun 1942, MiD – 1 Jan 1945, MiD – 1 Jan 1946, MA.

(RAFO) Plt Off (P): 20 Mar 1933, Plt Off: 20 Mar 1934, Fg Off: 20 Sep 1934,

(RAF): Plt Off: 21 Aug 1937 [21 Nov 1935], Fg Off: 21 Feb 1938 [21 May 1937], Act Flt Lt: 20 Mar 1939, Flt Lt: 21 Feb 1940 [21 May 1939], (T) Sqn Ldr: 1 Sep 1940, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Mar 1942, Sqn Ldr: 20 Nov 1942 [1 Sep 1940], Wg Cdr: 1 Oct 1946, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1953 [seniority adjusted to 1 Jan 1952 on 18 May 1954], A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1958, Act AVM (unpd): 26 Sep 1960, Act AVM (pd): 1 Jan 1961, AVM: 1 Jan 1962.

20 Mar 1933:           Granted a commission in AA2 of the RAFO.

20 Mar 1935:           Transferred to RAFO, Class C.

22 Apr 1936:           Transferred from Class C to Class AA2, RAFO

21 Aug 1937:           Granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of Pilot Officer.

21 Aug 1937:           Relinquishes his commission in the RAFO.

 4 Apr 1938:            Attended School of General Reconnaissance.

21 Nov 1938:          Pilot, No 230 Sqn. (Sunderland - Singapore) (arrived 22 Dec 1938 in Sunderland, L5803)

23 May - 13 Jun 1940:          Acting Squadron Leader - Flying, No 230 Sqn

18 Oct - xx xxx 1940:           Officer Commanding (Temporary), No 230 Sqn

13 Jun 1942:            Attended Course No 7, Middle East Staff School, Haifa.

23 May 1942:          ?

xx May 1943:           Officer Commanding, No 262 Sqn. (Catalina)

xx Dec 1943:            Served in European Theatre.

 4 Apr 1944:            Air Staff, HQ No 10 Group.

16 Aug 1945:           Head of Rescue 2, Deputy Directorate of Rescue, Directorate of Navigation.

xx xxx 1947:            Staff, Directorate of Command and Staff Training.

1948 - 50                 ?

14 Aug 1950:           Wing Commander - Training, HQ Coastal Command.

10 May 1952           Staff Officer - Plans, Policy and Operations, HQ SACLANT

xx xxxx 1955:          Officer Commanding, RAF Topcliffe

30 Jan 1957:            SASO, No 19 (Reconnaissance) Group.

15 Oct 1957:           AOC, RAF Element, Maritime HQ, Chatham.

xx xxx 1958:            Deputy Chief of Staff (Logistics and Admin), HQ Allied Forces Central Europe

 2 Nov 1959:           Director of Quartering.

26 Sep 1960:          SASO (designate), HQ Coastal Command

 1 Jan 1961:            SASO, HQ Coastal Command.

15 Feb 1963:           AOC, No 18 (Reconnaissance) Group/AOC, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Initially joined the RAFO whilst an undergraduate at St John's College, Oxford.  He joined No 230 Squadron, initially in Singapore but later moving to Egypt, and remained with it until at least October 1941, progressing from  to Squadron Leader.  Having retired he became Managing Director of a number of petro-chemical companies from 1966 to 1969.

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross

"GARSIDE, Kenneth Vernon, W/C (36107, Royal Air Force) - No.230 Squadron.

This officer has served with the squadron for the past 2 ½ years.  He has completed a large number of sorties, including attacks on enemy submarines at night.  It is probable that three were destroyed and the others damaged.  In one of these attacks, his aircraft came under the enemy's machine gun fire whilst flying at a low level.  Squadron Leader Garside has performed much valuable work both operationally and in the training of new pilots."

(Source - Air 2/9588.  Recommended when he had flown 827 hours and 110 sorties)

This page was last updated on 11/03/24©

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