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Air Vice-Marshal Sir George Laing


Sir George LaingGeorge             b: 11 Nov 1884                             r: xx xxx 1945                                  d:  1 Apr 1956

KCB – 1 Jan 1945 (CB – 1 Jul 1941), CBE – 4 Jun 1928 (OBE – 1 Jan 1919).

(Army): - Pte: 30 Nov 1904, L/Cpl: 17 Apr 1905, Sgt:  4 Apr 1906, Flt Sgt: 18 May 1914, Sgt Maj: 11 Aug 1914, (H) Lt: 21 Sep 1915, (T) Capt: 26 Apr 1916, (T) Maj: 1 Nov 1916.

(RAF): - (T) Lt Col [Maj]: 1 Apr 1918, Sqn Ldr: 1 Aug 1919, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1921, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1927, A/Cdre: 1 May 1938, Act AVM: 19 Oct 1940, (T) AVM: 1 Jun 1941.

Sir George Laing

by Bassano Ltd
bromide print, 24 May 1938
NPG x85175

© National Portrait Gallery, London

30 Nov 1904:              Private (9596), The Gordon Highlanders Depot.

 1 May 1905:               Private,1st Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders

 4 Apr 1906:                Appointed Pioneer Sergeant, The Gordon Highlanders

 1 Nov 1912:               Transferred to RFC, retaining the rank of Sergeant (1154).

13 Jul 1915:                 Re-engaged in the Field for 21 years.

21 Sep 1915:               Appointed to a Commission as a Quartermaster in the rank of Honorary Lieutenant in the RFC.

21 Sep 1915:               Assistant Equipment Officer, RFC

26 Apr 1916:               Equipment Officer 1st Class, RFC.

 1 Nov 1916:               Appointed Park Commander, RFC

12 Jan 1917:                Temporary duty at ERS

 1Apr 1918:                 Lieutenant Colonel (Technical)

14 Feb 1919:               Staff Officer, Directorate of Equipment.

 1 May 1919:               Staff Officer 1st Class (Technical), Head of E.2D, Directorate of Equipment.

 1 Aug 1919:                Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Major (Technical Branch)

 1 Jan 1921:               Transferred to the Stores Branch.

 1 Aug 1922:                Deputy Director of Equipment.

20 Feb 1928:               Officer Commanding, No 1 Stores Depot.

 1 Dec 1931:                Deputy Director of Equipment (Aircraft).

xx xxx 1938:                Principal Deputy Director of Equipment.

28 Jul 1939:                 AOC, No 41 Group.

He was the first officer in the Equipment Branch to be promoted to the rank of Group Captain and Air Commodore.

Recommendation for the award of Commander, Order of the Order of the British Empire

"LAING, George, G/C, OBE

 For his zeal, efficiency and nearly nine years untiring service at the Air Ministry during which time he has to a large extent been responsible for the efficient and economical administration of the Stores Depots."

(Source: Air 2/326 -  4 April 1928)

Another text on the same file (repeated in Public Record Office Air 30/72)  reads:

"In recognition of distinguished service with the Directorate of Equipment, Air Ministry.  Group Captain Laing served for over nine years with that Directorate, and for nearly six years held the post of Deputy Director.  He displayed throughout the utmost zeal and energy, and to a large extent has been responsible for the efficient  and economical administration o the Stores Depots.  He also performed outstanding work in connection with the introduction of a new system of storekeeping and stores accounting in the Royal Air Force."

This page was last updated on 11/09/24

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