Sir George Clark Pirie
by Bassano Ltd
bromide print, 1940s
NPG x85376
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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Air Chief Marshal Sir George Pirie
George
Clark
b: 28 Jul 1896
r: 15 Oct 1951
d: 21 Jan 1980
KCB - 7 Jun 1951 (CB - 1 Jan 1943), KBE - 1 Jan 1946 (CBE - 1 Jan 1942), MC - 25 Aug 1917, DFC - 28 Oct 1921, MiD - 11 Jun 1942, LL.D.
1st
Prize, 'Gordon-Shepherd' Competition – 1928, 2nd Prize, 'Gordon-Shepherd'
Competition – 1933.
(Army):
- 2 Lt
(P): 19
Sep 1914,
2 Lt:
16 Mar 1915, Lt:
6 Jul 1916, Capt: 1 Apr 1916, (T) Maj:
25 Mar 1918.
(RAF):
- Capt: 1
Apr 1918, Act Maj:
1 May 1919, Flt
Lt: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918], Act Sqn Ldr: 1 Aug 1919?,
Sqn Ldr:
1 Jan 1925, Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1932,
Act Gp Capt: 1 Feb 1937, Gp
Capt: 1 Jul 1937, (T) A/Cdre: 1
Jul 1940, Act AVM: 14
Aug 1941, (T) AVM: 1 Dec 1941,
A/Cdre: 14 Apr 1942 [1 Jul 1940],
AVM:
15 Jul 1942, (T) AM: 1 Jan 1946, Act AM:
9 Jun 1945, (T) AM: 1 Jan 1946, AM:
1 Apr 1946, ACM: 1 Mar 1949.
Sir George Clark Pirie
by Bassano Ltd
bromide print, 1940s
NPG x85376
19 Sep
1914: Officer, 3rd Battalion,
The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles
6 Mar 1916: U/T Observer, No 2 Sqn RFC.
28 Apr 1916: Graded Qualified Observer, No 2 Sqn RFC.
4 May 1916: Flying Officer (Observer), RFC.
15 Jul 1916: Returned to Home Establishment
xx xxx 1916: U/T Pilot,
1
Sep 1916: Appointed Flying Officer, RFC
25 Sep 1916: Transferred to Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) from General List in the rank of Temporary 2nd Lieutenant. (seconded to RFC?)
2 Nov 1916: Re-embarked for France
6 Nov 1916: Pilot, No 34 Sqn RFC
1 -11 Feb 1917: Attended Machine Gun School
12
Apr 1917: Flight Commander, No 34 Sqn RFC. (RE8 – Italy)
2-14 Sep 1917: Acting Officer Commanding, No 34 Sqn RFC
16 Jan 1918: Returned to Home Establishment
25 Mar 1918: Appointed Squadron Commander, RFC.
4 Jul 1918:
6 Jul 1918: Officer Commanding, No 6 Sqn (RE8 – Western Front, Mesopotamia from 30 Apr 1919)
18
Jun 1920?: Awaiting
disposal, HQ Mesopotamian Wing.
8 Feb 1921: Supernumerary, RAF Depot
1 May 1921: Staff, Inspector of Recruiting.
12 Oct 1921: Supernumerary (non-effective), RAF Depot.
10 Mar 1922: Attended School of Army Co-operation.
17 May 1922: Flight Commander, No 4 Sqn.
1 Sep 1922: Air Staff duties, HQ Inland Area.
5
May 1924: Attended RAF Staff College.
27
Apr 1925: FO
3 (b), Directorate of Operations and Intelligence.
13
Dec 1926: Attended Imperial Defence College.
6
Jan 1928:
Air Staff - Intelligence, HQ Iraq Command.
9
Mar 1929: Supernumerary, RAF Depot.
21
May 1929: Supernumerary, No 10 Sqn. (Hinaidi – Upper Heyford)
13
Jul 1929:
'A' Flight Commander, No 10 Sqn. (Hinaidi – Upper Heyford)
1
Jan 1930:
Directing Staff, RAF Staff College.
2 Jun 1933:
Officer Commanding, RAF Tangmere.
27 Aug 1934: Staff/Supernumerary, HQ No 1 Air Defence Group.
1
Sep 1936:
Deputy Director of Operations.
18
Oct 1937: Air Attaché, Washington
14 Aug 1941: AOC, RAF in Northern Ireland
20
Sep 1941: AOA, HQ Middle East Command
10 Apr 1943: Director of War Organisation.
xx
Jul
1943:
Director-General of Organisation.
9
Jun 1945: Deputy Air C in C, Air Command South East Asia
30
Apr 1946: AOC in C, Air Command South East Asia
30
Nov 1946: AOC in C, Air Command Far East
1
Jan 1948:
Inspector-General of the RAF.
1
Sep 1948:
Air Member for Supply and Organisation
8
Mar 1950: Head of RAF Staff, British Joint Services Mission – Washington
Educated at Fettes College, and St Andrew's University, he volunteered for service almost immediately after the outbreak of war.
Following
the murder of a British officer by an Iraqi Sheikh he was approached by an Army
officer with a request that he send a pilot to kill the Sheikh.
It became obvious that this particular officer had a somewhat over-rated
view of air power when he advised Pirie,
"The pilot can't mistake him (the Sheikh), for he is riding a dappled grey pony and his attendants are mounted on ordinary grey ones".
Retiring at his own request he was Chairman of the Air League of the British Empire from 1955 to 1958.
Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross
"Flight Lieutenant George Clark Pirie, M.C., R.A.F.
For great gallantry and good work, especially during operations in the relief of Diwaniyah and during our retirement to Hillah. This officer showed remarkable ability in quick initiative when leading his flight during 'operations."
(London Gazette - 28 October 1921)
Recommendation for the award of Commander of the Order of the British Empire
PIRIE, George Clark, A/V/M, MC, DFC (Royal Air Force) - Air Attaché, Washington - awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1943. Recommendation was for 1941 Honours Lists. In view of the lapse of time, this award may have been for services other than (or additional to) those given below.
"This officer has done excellent work in Washington since his appointment three years ago and has proved himself a most efficient and capable Air Attaché. His work has naturally increased since the outbreak of the war and is now of great importance. He has handled all the manifold questions with great skill and has never spared himself. He has established excellent relations with Americans both in the fighting services and in civilian life and is a most useful member of the Ambassador's staff."
(Source - Air 2/8887)
This page was last updated on 25/12/22
T W
Piper
