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Air Vice-Marshal V C Otter (44999)


Victor Charles              b: 9 Feb 1914                     r: 21 Apr 1969                        d: 5 May 1996

CBE – 10 Jun 1967 (OBE – 13 Jun 1946), CEng, FRAeS, MBIM.

(RAF): - LAC: xx xxx xxxx, Cpl: xx xxx xxxx, Sgt: xx xxx xxxx, F/Sgt: xx xxx xxxx, Plt Off (P): 29 Nov 1940 [28 Oct 1940], Plt Off: 29 Nov 1941 Fg Off (WS): 12 Jan 1942, Act Sqn Ldr: 15 Jan 1943, (T) Flt Lt: 1 Jul 1943, Flt Lt (WS): 15 Jul 1943, Act Wg Cdr: 26 Apr 1945, Sqn Ldr: 26 Oct 1945, Sqn Ldr: 22 Mar 1946 [1 Sep 1945], Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1950, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1957, Act A/Cdre: xx xxx 1961, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1962, AVM: 1 Jan 1967.

xx Sep 1929:                Aircraft Apprentice, 20th Entry, No 1 School of Technical Training

xx xxx 1932:                 Fitter/Rigger? (563606)

xx xxx 1935:                 U/T Pilot, No ? FTS

xx xxx 1936:                 Pilot, No 102 Sqn.

12 Dec 1936:               Undergoing treatment and recuperation, Halifax Royal Infirmary, RAF Hospital, Cranwell and RAF Hospital Halton

xx xxx 1938:                 Pilot, No 102 Sqn.

29 Nov 1940:               Appointed to a Duration only Commission in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch

12 Jan 1941:                Transferred to the Technical Branch.

 1 Mar 1941:                Engineering Officer, HQ No 41 Group.

xx xxx 1942:                 Staff Officer (Technical), Controller Research and Development

22 Mar 1946:               Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Squadron Leader (wef 1 Sep 1945)

17 Sep 1947:               Assistant Air Attaché, Budapest.

xx xxx 1949:                 ?

xx Mar 1954:               Officer Commanding, Central Servicing and Development Establishment

xx Jan 1955:                 ?

10 Dec 1956:               Command Engineering Officer, HQ Bomber Command

23 Jul 1959:                 Officer Commanding, No 32 Maintenance Unit

19 Jun 1961:                 Senior Technical Staff Officer, HQ Flying Training Command

xx xxx 1963:                 Project Director, P1154/P1127

28 Dec 1966:               Senior Technical Staff Officer, HQ Transport Command.

 1 Aug 1967:                Air Officer Engineering, Air Support Command.

On 12 December 1936 he was seriously injured whilst flying Heyford, K6900, when the formation he was flying in encountered very poor weather conditions resulting in severe icing during the return flight from a detachment at RAF Aldergrove to RAF Finningley.  His aircraft crashed into high ground near Hebden Bridge, instantly killing two of his crew and mortally injuring his co-pilot, who died on the way to hospital.  He then spent two years undergoing plastic surgery for his facial burns by Mr Archie McIndoe but when he returned to No 102 Squadron, he was pronounced unfit for further flying duties.

Citation for the award of Officer of the Order of the British Empire

OTTER, Victor Charles, A/W/C (44999, Royal Air Force) - Controller of Research and Development, Ministry of Aircraft Production - awarded as per London Gazette dated 13 June 1946.

"Wing Commander Otter has held the post of Technical Staff Officer to the Controller of Research and Development since January 1944, prior to which time he had served as Technical Staff Officer to the Deputy Director of Technical Development for eighteen months. Throughout the whole of this period he has been outstanding for the accuracy and clarity of his very complicated work. During the time he has been Staff Officer to the Controller of Research and Development he has carried a very heavy load which has entailed the continual responsibility of advising the Controller.  At no time, even throughout the difficult period of V-1 and V-2 attacks, has his judgement and accuracy proved anything but perfect.  In spite of the exacting nature of his work he has shown the finest spirit of willingness and cooperation with the many people with whom he has had to deal and, although the strain must at times have been very great, he has carried his load without flinching."

(Source - Air 2/9668)

This page was last updated on 11/12/22

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