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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Frederick Snowden b: 4 Feb 1912 r: 9 Apr 1966 d: 19 Apr 1974
CB 10 Jun 1961, DSO 2 Dec 1941, DFC 15 Jul 1941, BA - 1933, FAIM - 1967.
Sgt: xx xxx 1933, Plt Off: 3 Mar 1936 [3 Dec 1934], Fg Off: 3 Sep 1936 [3 Jun 1936], Act Flt Lt: 3 Mar 1938, Flt Lt: 3 Sep 1938 [3 Jun 1938], Sqn Ldr: 1 Jun 1939, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Jun 1941, Act Gp Capt: 22 Oct 1943?, Wg Cdr (WS): 22 Apr 1944, Wg Cdr: 1 Oct 1946, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1951, Act A/Cdre: 12 Jan 1956, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1957, Act AVM: 1 Feb 1959, AVM: 1 Jul 1959.
xx xxx 1933: Sergeant Pilot, RAFVR
3 Mar 1936: Granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of Pilot Officer.
3 Mar 1936: U/T Pilot, No 5 FTS.
11 Oct 1936: Pilot, No 3 Sqn.
9 Nov 1936: Adjutant, No 3 Sqn
16 Jan 1937: Officer Commanding 'B' Flight, No 3 Sqn
18 Mar 1937: Assistant Adjutant, No 603 (City of Edinburgh) Sqn AuxAF
26 Mar 1937: Supernumerary (non-effective, sick), RAF Depot
8 Oct 1937: Pilot, No 87 Sqn.
3 Jun 1938: Flight Commander, No 87 Sqn.
1 Dec 1938 - 17 Apr 1939: Officer Commanding (Temporary), No 87 Sqn
xx xxx 1939: Attended School of Air Navigation (Specialist Navigation Course).
xx xxx 1940: Staff, HQ No 50 Group.
23 Mar 1941: Attended Refresher Flying Course, No 58 OTU.
17 Apr 1941: Supernumerary Sqn Ldr, No 54 Sqn
xx May 1941: Officer Commanding, No 611 (West Lancashire) Sqn. (Spitfire Vb)
27 Jun 1941: Wing Commander - Flying (Wing Leader), Hornchurch Wing.
23 Feb 1942: Chief Instructor, No 42 Air School. (South End, Port Elizabeth, South Africa)
22 Oct 1943: Officer Commanding, No 42 Air School. (South Africa)
15 May 1945: Deputy Director of Operational Requirements.
xx xxx 1945: Deputy Director of Operational Requirements (II).
xx Jan 1947: Attended RAF Staff College.
xx xxx 1948: Group Captain - Operations, HQ Fighter Command.
xx Oct 1949: Officer Commanding, RAF Linton-on-Ouse.
xx xxx 1951: Officer Commanding, RAF Wunsdorf.
xx xxx 1953: CFI, RAF College.
xx Jan 1955: Attended Imperial Defence College.
12 Jan 1956: Commander, Northern Sector.
1 Oct 1957: SASO, HQ No 13 Group.
10 Feb 1959: Head of Joint UK Liaison Staff, Australia.
15 May 1961: SASO, HQ Transport Command.
14 Mar 1964: Director-General of Manning.
Awarded a University Commission whilst at Downing College, Cambridge, he joined the RAF in 1936 and following flying training, he was posted to No 3 Squadron and shortly afterwards to No 87 Squadron flying Hurricanes at Debden. Despite his short operational career, he still managed to amass a total of seven destroyed, four probable and one shared and three damaged. Retired to Australia where he became a Management Consultant in Melbourne.
Citation
for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Wing
Commander Frederick Snowden STAPLETON (36059), No.54 Squadron.
This
officer has led his squadron on almost every operational flight during its
recent activities over enemy territory, in which the squadron has .destroyed at
least twelve enemy aircraft. Two of
these were destroyed by Wing Commander Stapleton himself.
He has always displayed the utmost enthusiasm
to seek out and destroy the enemy and has undoubtedly contributed materially to
the successes obtained.
(London
Gazette 15 Jul 1941)
Wing
Commander Frederick Snowden STAPLETON, D.F.C. (36059).
Since
June, 1941, this officer has participated in 47 operational sorties.
Leading the wing with the utmost coolness and determination he has taken
every opportunity to support the formations and to inflict damage on the enemy.
Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross he has destroyed 4
enemy aircraft, and has probably destroyed or damaged several others.
This page was last updated on 18/11/21
D C Stapleton
