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Air Commodore C L King


Charles Ley                  b: 17 Feb 1891            r: 17 Feb 1944                     d: 22 Apr 1956

MC - 16 Sep 1918, DFC - 2 Nov 1918, AFC - 1 Jan 1942, MiD - 15 Mar 1929.

(Army):- Pte xx xxx xxxx, Sgt: xx xxx xxxx, 3AM: 3 Apr 1917, 2 Lt (P): 22 Jul 1917, 2 Lt: 3 Sep 1917.

(RAF):- Lt: 1 Apr 1918, (T) Capt: 22 Jul 1918, Fg Off: 1 Aug 1919, Flt Lt: 30 Jun 1922, Sqn Ldr: 1 Jul 1928, Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1935, Gp Capt: 1 Nov 1938 [27 Sep 1938], Act A/Cdre: xx xxx 1940, A/Cdre: Not retained.

xx xxx xxxx:          Soldier (1003557), 27th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force.

 3 Apr 1917:           Miscellaneous (Aviator), RFC

23 Jul 1917:            Flying Officer, RFC.

23 Jul 1917:            Transferred to the General List.

xx xxx 1917:            Pilot, No 34 Sqn.

22 Jul 1918:             Flight Commander, No 34 Sqn.

 6 Sep 1919:            Pilot, No 12 Sqn.

28 Oct 1919:          Granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flying Officer (effective from 1 Aug)

22 Oct 1920 - 3 Mar 1921:    Placed on half pay list, scale B

 4 Mar 1921:           Staff, School of Army Co-operation.

15 Jun 1921:           Pilot, No 4 Sqn.

20 Jan -.25 Feb 1924:    Placed on half pay list, scale B

25 Feb 1924:          Flight Commander, No 4 Sqn.

15 Dec 1925:          Pilot, No 70 Sqn.

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14 Dec 1928:          Flight Commander, No 502 (Ulster) Sqn AuxAF.

10 Sep 1929:          Officer Commanding, No 502 (Ulster) Sqn AuxAF.

 2 Nov 1929:          Flight Commander, No 502 (Ulster) Sqn AuxAF.

 4 Mar 1932:           Personnel Staff, HQ Inland Area.

18 Feb 1935:          Officer Commanding, No 3 APC, Sutton Bridge.

18 Oct 1935:          Air Staff, HQ Iraq Command.

 4 Apr 1938:           Officer Commanding, RAF Catterick.

23 Nov 1938:         Officer Commanding, RAF Grantham

 1 Dec 1938:           Officer Commanding, No 12 FTS, RAF Grantham

 4 Sep 1939            Officer Commanding RAF Debden

27 May 1940:         SASO, HQ Technical Training Command.

27 May - 10 Jun 1940:         Attached to RAF Debden as Officer Commanding

22 Sep 1940:          SASO, HQ No 9 Group

xx xxx xxxx:            Officer Commanding, No 8 Air Gunners' School

A Canadian, born in Wallace, Manitoba, he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force before transferring to the RFC in 1917.  In 1938, he was the first commanding officer of No 12 FTS.

Citation for the award of the Military Cross

“T/Lt. Charles Ley King, R.A.F.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to  duty when working with artillery in carrying out thirteen successful shoots, by which numerous enemy gun pits were destroyed and fires and explosions caused.  He also carried out two very good long reconnaissances, taking excellent photographs and obtaining valuable information."

(London.Gazette - 16th September,1918.)

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross

Lt. (T./Capt.) Charles Ley King, M.C.

This officer has done excellent work both on reconnaissance duty and in co-operation with our artillery.  In the latter service he shows remarkable skill and keen observation.  In carrying out a shoot on the 31st of August 848 rounds were fired in five and a-half hours, and four pits were destroyed – a fine performance, reflecting great credit on this officer's capability.

(M.C. gazetted 16th September,1918.)”

(London Gazette – 2 November 1918)

Citation for the award of the Air Force Cross

"KING, G/C Charles Ley, MC, DFC - - No.8 Air Gunners School

This officer commands No.8 Air Gunners School and, during the conversion of the unit to Botha aircraft, he has performed outstanding service as a flying instructor in giving dual control to his pilots on a new type. In a period of three months he carried out 142 hours instructional flying, in one month of which his flying time reached the high figure of 62 hours. His work in the air justifies special recognition and he has set an excellent example."

(Source - Air 2/6269)

This page was last updated on 27/08/23©

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