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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Air Marshal Sir Arthur McDonald (18219)
Arthur William Baynes b: 14 Jun 1903 r: 20 Apr 1962 d: 26 Jul 1996
KCB - 1 Jan 1958 (CB - 1 Jan 1949), AFC - 1 Jan 1938, MiD - 11 Jun 1942, MiD - 8 Jun 1944, MiD – 1 Jan 1945, MiD - 14 Jun 1945, MA (Peterhouse College, Cambridge)- 1931, CEng, FRAeS - 1959, DL (Hampshire) - 14 Jul 1965.
Plt Off (P): 15 Mar 1924, Plt Off: 15 Sep 1924, Fg Off: 15 Oct 1925, Flt Lt: 13 Nov 1929, Sqn Ldr: 1 Dec 1936, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1940, Act Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1941, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Dec 1941, Wg Cdr (WS): 1 Jan 1942 Wg Cdr: 14 Apr 1942 [1 Jan 1940], Act A/Cdre: 26 Feb 1943 - 28 Feb 1945, Gp Capt (WS): 26 Aug 1943, Act A/Cdre: 16 Apr 1945, Gp Capt: 1 Oct 1946, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1949, AVM: 1 Jul 1952, Act AM: 10 Jan 1958, AM: 1 Jul 1958.
15 Mar 1924: Granted a Short Service Commission (Five years on the active list)
15 Mar 1924: U/T Pilot, No 5 FTS
15 Feb 1925: Qualified as a Pilot and authorised to wear Fling Badge 'Wings' (Distinguished Pass - 82.5%)
16 Feb 1925: Pilot - Flying Training on Single Seat Fighters, No 41 Sqn (Siskins - Northolt)
15 Apr 1925: Supernumerary, No 41 Sqn
19 May - 17 Jul 1925: Attended Air Gunnery and Bombing Course, Armament & Gunnery School (75%)
1 Jul 1925: Pilot, No 23 Sqn (remained attached to Armament & Gunnery School)
18 Jul 1925: Pilot, No 23 Sqn (on completion of Armament & Gunnery School Course)
24 Aug - 19 Oct 1925: Attended No 8 Short Armament Course, Armament & Gunnery School (79%)
19 Oct 1925: Pilot and Armament duties, No 23 Sqn
30 Jul 1927: Attended Engineering Officer’s Course, Inland Area Depot.
1 Sep 1928: Granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flying Officer.
30 Jun 1929: Successfully completed the Engineering Course and awarded the symbol 'E' (Passed 72%)
8 Jul 1929: Attended Peterhouse College, Cambridge (Passed and awarded Symbol 'E*').
5 Aug - 27 Sep 1931: Placed on half pay list, scale B (Leave in the British West Indies)
28 Sep 1929: Supernumerary, Cambridge UAS
1 Nov 1931: Attended Course 'B', Imperial College of Science & Technology, London (awarded DIC for advanced study in Aeronautics)
25 Jun - 16 Aug 1932: Attended Single Engine Conversion Course (Suitable pilot for SE day bombers)
25 Jul 1932: Supernumerary, No 24 Sqn for Refresher Flying Course (Signal Engine Bomber aircraft)
30 Aug 1932: Attached, School of Photography (Temporary duty at RAE).
23 Sep 1932: Engineering duties, RAF Base, Singapore
22 Nov 1935: Supernumerary (Leave), RAF Depot
19 Mar 1936: Flight Commander, No 32 Sqn
22 Mar 1937: Officer Commanding, No 79 Sqn.
12 Apr 1937: Supernumerary, No 32 Sqn.
15 Apr 1937: Officer Commanding, No 32 Sqn.
24 Jan 1938: Attended Course No 16, RAF Staff College.
28 Sep - 4 Oct 1938: Attached (Temporary duty), HQ Fighter Command.
17 Dec 1938: Supernumerary (Leave), RAF Staff College
31 Dec 1938: Staff, Directorate of Repair and Maintenance.
1 Jan 1940: Assistant Director of Repair and Servicing (1)
28 Aug 1940: Engineering Officer, No 6/56 OTU.
8 Sep 1940: Engineering Officer, RAF Sutton Bridge
1 Dec 1940: Wg Cdr - Technical, No 54 OTU
21 Jan 1941: Supernumerary (non-effective, sick), RAF Church Fenton
24 Mar 1941: Flying duties, RAF Duxford
1 Jul 1941: Officer Commanding, RAF Duxford
19 Feb 1942: Supernumerary, HQ, No 221 Group
25 Mar 1942: Air Defence Commander, HQ No 222 Group, Ceylon.
26 Feb 1943: Air Officer Training, AHQ India
16 Nov 1943, Air Officer Training, South-East Asia HQ Air Command.
28 Feb 1945: Attached, Air Ministry Unit (Temporary duty with Air Member for Training)
20 Mar 1945: Supernumerary (disembarkation leave), No 1 Personnel Despatch Centre.
16 Apr 1945: AOC, No 106 Group.
7 Oct 1946: Supernumerary, Staff College Allied Wing, Bulstrode Park
14 Oct 1946: Commandant, Staff College Allied Wing, Bulstrode Park
3 Feb 1948: Commandant, Staff College, Andover
3 Jan 1949: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit (Temporary duty with Directorate of Staff Training, Air Ministry)
11 Jan 1949: Attended Imperial Defence College.
1 Jan 1950: Supernumerary, Aircraft & Armament Experimental Establishment.
2 Jan 1950: Officer Commanding, Aircraft & Armament Experimental Establishment.
22 Aug 1952: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit pending posting to the Air Ministry
8 Sep 1952: Director-General of Manning.
15 - 20 Nov 1953: Attached, School of Land/Air Warfare (For No 12 Special Senior Officer Study Period)
23 Mar 1955: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit
20 Jun 1955: C in C, Royal Pakistan Air Force.
22 Jul 1957: Supernumerary (Leave), Air Ministry Unit
16 Dec 1957 - 3 Jan 1958: Refresher Flying Course, RAF Manby
10 Jan 1958: AOC in C, Technical Training Command.
29 Sep 1959: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit
1 Oct 1959: Air Member for Personnel.
Born in Port Elizabeth in South Africa he grew up in Antigua in the West Indies where his father was a doctor, he was initially educated at Antigua Grammar School before coming over to England to Epsom College in 1917 until 1920, where he served in the Junior Division of the Epsom College Officer Training Corps, achieving the rank of Lance Corporal.
During 1936/37, he was involved in the ‘Biggin Hill’ experiment which was designed to test the new RDF (Radar) system and to set up operating procedures for this new device. The results of this experiment was the successful method of fighter control which would prove so successful and beneficial during the summer of 1940.
In 1947 he was appointed Commandant of the Staff College at Bulstrode but whilst he was Commandant, he was tasked with relocating the College to Andover. Whilst in this post he took part in the 1948 Olympics, representing Great Britain in the single handed sailing competition in a 'Firefly'. He also formed the RAF Sailing Association. He was retired on account of being medically unfit for air force service. In 1965 he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for Hampshire.McDONALD, Arthur William Baynes, S/L - awarded 1 January 1938; reported in Aeroplane of 5 January 1938. Invested with award, 15 February 1938. This recommendation was made by Wg Cdr H G W Lock dated 1 October 1937. Lock was then Commanding Officer of No.32 Squadron.
"Squadron Leader A.W.B. McDonald has carried out work on special interception experiments at Biggin Hill since August 1936, and is still carrying out such work.
The fact that these experiments have reached fruition is largely due to the exceptional energy this officer has thrown into the experiments. This keenness and enthusiasm was not confined only to his personal activities but was inculcated in all connected with the flying activities of the experiments. This again was entirely due to his personal example.
During the experiments Squadron Leader McDonald has completed 200 hours experimental flying. This is separate from normal routine day and night flying. It is appreciated that the hours, when reviewed on numerical merit, may not appear exorbitant, but each flight required not only most careful recording during the flight but very careful and constructive analysis afterwards. This recording has had a most important bearing on the success of the scheme. The whole of this flying was therefore of a most exacting nature and reflects the highest tribute to Squadron Leader McDonald’s flying abilities.
This excellent example in flying discipline is reflected in the high state of flying training efficiency of his squadron and is proved by the good results obtained by his squadron during tactical exercises."
This was endorsed on 27 October 1937 by the Air Officer Commanding, No.11 Group (Air Vice-Marshal E L Gossage):
"The zealous and painstaking work performed by this officer, which is fully destribed by his Commanding Officer - and which report I fully endorse - has produced results of the highest service value to the Royal Air Force, and is worthy of special recognition. Strongly recommended for the Air Force Cross."
(Source - Air 2/2489)
This page was last updated on 16/03/25©
