7 Aug 1914:          Private, 1/4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.  

xx Nov 1914:          Lance Corporal, 4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.

 3 Apr 1915:           Officer, 4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.

29 Jul 1915:             Embarked for Middle East on HMT 'Aquitania'

 6 Aug 1915:             Disembarked at Lemnos

10 Aug 1915:            Served at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli

7/8 Dec 1915:           Evacuated to Mudros

24 Dec 1915:            Embarked at Mudros for Alexandria per SS Victorian

26 Jan - 16 Mar 1916:        Admitted to 19th General Hospital (suffering from a peptic ulcer)

29 Nov 1916:            Transferred to RFC

30 Nov 1916:            Attended No 3 School of Military Aeronautics

xx Dec 1916:             U/T Pilot, No 21 Reserve Sqn (6 hours 38 minutes - dual, 3 hours 42 minutes solo)

xx Jan 1917:              U/T Pilot, No 22 Reserve Sqn (Total flight times: 7 hours 45 minutes - dual, 5 hours 13 minutes solo)

xx Feb 1917:             U/T Pilot, No 23 Reserve Sqn (Total flight times: 14 hours 8 minutes - dual, 20 hours solo)

 9 Feb - 8 Mar 1917:        Admitted to 17 General Hospital, Alexandria (syphilis)

17 Apr 1917:            Appointed Flying Officer, RFC.

17 Apr 1917:            Instructor, No 23 Reserve Sqn, 20th Wing RFC

xx xxx 1917:            Attended School of Aerial Gunnery

 1 Jul 1917:               Posted to HQ, 16th Wing (Salonika)

 2-6 Jul 1917:            In transit to Salonika on HT 'Menominee'

 6 Jul 1917:               Disembarked at Salonika and posted to Base Depot,

 6 Jul 1917:               Pilot, 'C' Flight, No 47 Sqn.

 6 Nov 1917:            Pilot, 'B' Flight, No 47 Sqn.

 1 Feb 1918:             Proceeded by train to Bralo then embarked for Taranto

 7 Feb 1918:             Embarked at Taranto for UK (Leave)

25 Apr 1918:            Arrived at Itea from Taranto

 1 May 1918:            Arrived at Salonika

 1 May 1918:            Pilot, 'B' Flight, No 150 Sqn. (Bristol M.1C, SE5a & Camel)

 8 Oct 1918:             In transit from Salonika to Egypt

15 Aug 1918:           Arrived Port Said, Egypt, per SS Nam Sang

17 Oct 1918:           Base Depot, Egypt

19 Oct 1918:           Staff, No 58 Training Sqn, No 69 Wing, No 26 (Training) Group, Suez

18 Nov 1918:          Assistant Flying Instructor, No 20 Training Depot Station, No 20 Wing, No 26 (Training) Group, Suez

 4 Dec 1918:           Officer Commanding, 'A' Flight, No 20 TDS, No 20 Wing, No 26 (Training) Group, Suez

6-28 Jan 1919:        Admitted to General Hospital, Suez (syphilis)

29 Jan-14 Feb 1919:    Admitted to General Hospital, Suez (influenza)

17 May 1919:          Embarked Port Said for UK per MHT Nile

xx Aug 1919:           ?, No 44 Training Depot Station

xx Sep 1919:           ?, Central Flying School

10 Oct 1919:           Transferred to Unemployed List

24 Oct 1919:           Awarded Short Service Commission in the rank of Flying Officer (Aeroplane).

xx Dec 1919:            Pilot, No 142 Sqn

28 Feb 1920:           Pilot, No 55 Sqn.

18 Mar 1923:           Supernumerary, RAF Depot.

23 Jul 1923:             Adjutant, No 41 Sqn.

xx Mar 1925:           'C' Flight Commander, No 41 Sqn.

17 Aug 1927:           Supernumerary

 1 Sep 1927:            Administration Staff, HQ RAF Halton.

17 Aug 1928:           Flight Commander, No 8 Sqn.

 8 Jan 1930:             Supernumerary, RAF Depot

11 May 1930:          Flight Commander, No 111 Sqn.

27 Jul 1931:             Officer Commanding, No 1 Sqn. (Siskin IIIA, Fury I)

 1 Dec 1933:            Personnel Staff, HQ Inland Area.

xx xxx 1935:             Supernumerary

 2 Mar 1935:            Air Staff, HQ RAF Middle East.

16 Jan 1939:            Officer Commanding, RAF Helwan

xx xxx 1940:            Officer Commanding, No 252 Wing

 1 Jan 1941:             Officer Commanding, No 258 Wing.

10 Feb 1941:           Staff Officer, HQ RAF Middle East.

xx xxx 1941:             Officer Commanding, HQ CYRCOM

13 Apr 1941:           Senior Air Force Officer - Tobruk/Officer Commanding, No 258 Wing

13 Jul 1941:             AOC, No 203 Group

 6 Apr 1942:            Officer Commanding, No 57 OTU/RAF Hawarden

20 Aug 1942:           SASO, HQ, No 14 (Fighter) Group

13 Sep 1943:           AOA, HQ Fighter Command.

15 Nov 1943:          AOA, HQ Air Defence of Great Britain.

13 Sep 1944:           AOA, HQ Fighter Command.

24 Sep 1945:           AOC, No 19 Group.

12 Sep 1947:           SASO, HQ British Air Forces of Occupation.

Enlisting in 1914 on the outbreak of war, he moved with his Regiment to Gallipoli in 1915 and later Egypt.  Commissioned in 1915, he was seconded to the RFC in October 1916, transferring in 1917 and following flying training was posted to the Salonika Front where he gained three victories with 47 Squadron.  However, during training, he side-slipped in a turn and crashed, being admitted to hospital as a result.  No 55 Squadron was part of 'Q' Force, Turkey.  No 203 Group was created by downgrading AHQ Sudan.  Retired at his own request.

Recommendation for the award of the Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross

"SPACKMAN, Charles Basil Slater, F/L, DFC

For conspicuous courage and devotion to duty in the air throughout the operations in South Kurdistan from May to September 1921.  While taking part in operations with a column of Levies and Police on September 12th, 1921, he landed in a most difficult country and picked up an injured pilot (who had been forced to land his machine), displaying great gallantry and marked skill in effecting a good landing under difficult conditions, and taking off again with an excessive load."

Published in London Gazette as "For distinguished services rendered during active service operations in Iraq during 1920-1921"

(Source – Air 30/49)

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

"SPACKMAN, Charles Basil Slater, AVM, DFC (Royal Air Force) - Headquarters, Air Defence Great Britain

This officer has for over twelve months been Air Officer in Charge of Administration for Air Defence Great Britain Both before and during the Normandy operations, the allied air forces depended very largely on the Air Defence Great Britain administrative organisation. Large numbers of new units had to be formed, new landing grounds opened up and a great number of stations had to be handed over to the USAAF. The smooth and efficient working of the administrative machine, both before and during the battle, was mainly due to the zeal, ability, tact and steadiness shown by Air Vice-Marshal Spackman."

(Source - Dix-Noonan-Webb (medal dealers), citing Air Ministry documents.)

This page was last updated on 09/11/24

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