Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Commodore A H Wann

Archibald Herbert           b: 26 Nov 1895                   r: 2 Nov 1946                       d: 11 Oct 1948

MiD - 1 Jan 1941, MiD - 8 Jun 1944.

(RN):- Mid’n: 15 May 1913, Act Sub-Lt: 15 May 1915, Flt Sub-Lt: 15 May 1915, Sub-Lt: 15 Jan 1916, Flt Lt: 1 Oct 1916. Lt: 15 Jul 1917, Flt Cdr: 31 Dec 1917.

(RAF):- (T) Capt [Lt]: 1 Apr 1918, Act Maj: 17 Nov 1918 - 30 Apr 1919, Flt Lt: 1 Aug 1919, Sqn Ldr: 10 Oct 1928, Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1935, Gp Capt: 1 Nov 1938, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Nov 1942, Act AVM: 6 Feb 1944, A/Cdre: Retained?. 

15 Sep 1908:         Naval Cadet, Osbourne

15 May 1913:        Midshipman, HMS King George V

15 May 1915:         Lent to RNAS for special duty, Wormwood Scrubbs Airship Station

 1 Jan 1916:            Airship Pilot, Kingsnorth Airship Station.

17 May 1916:         Airship Pilot, Russian Expeditionary Force

17 Oct 1916:          Airship Pilot, Airship C26, Kingsnorth/Polegate Airship Station

15 Nov 1916:         Captain, Airship C24, East Fortune Air Station

12 Jan 1917:           Airship Pilot, Rigid Airship No 3, Barrow-in-Furness Airship Station

26 Mar 1917:        

 2 Apr 1917:           Attended Course of Instruction at Compass Department

19 Apr 1917:          Airship Pilot, Barrow-in-Furness Airship Station

 5 Nov 1917:           Airship Pilot, Rigid Airship No 24, East Fortune Air Station

18 Mar 1918:          Airship Pilot, Barrow-in-Furness Airship Station

 1 Aug 1919:           Awarded Permanent Commission in rank of Flight Lieutenant. (gazetted 26 Sep 1919)

1920                       Staff, Airship Experimental Station, Pulham.

22 Jan 1920:            Removed from the Navy Lists on being awarded Permanent Commission in RAF

21 Mar 1920:          Staff, RAF Airship Base, Howden.

24 Feb 1922:          Supernumerary, HQ Coastal Area.

13 Apr - 13 Jun 1922:          Placed on half pay, Scale A

13 Jun 1922:           Supernumerary, RAF Depot.

 7 Sep 1922:           Staff, School of Naval Co-operation and Aerial Navigation.

 5 Feb 1923:           Staff, RAF Base, Calshot.

11 Nov 1924:         Officer Commanding, School of Balloon Training.

 10 May 1926:        Attended RAF Staff College.

 6 Jan 1928:            Staff, Deputy Directorate of Manning.

 4 Jan 1932:            Attended Flying Boat Pilot's Course, RAF Base, Calshot.

 7 - 19 Aug 1932:   Placed on half pay list, Scale A

20 Aug 1932:         Supernumerary, No 202 Sqn. (arrived 28 Aug 1932)

 1 Sep 1932:          Officer Commanding, No 202 Sqn. (arrived 28 Aug 1932)

30 May 1934:         Supernumerary, RAF Depot.

 2 Jul 1934:             Staff, Directorate of Staff Duties.

xx xxx 1938?          Deputy Director of Operations (Naval Co-operation)

29 Dec 1938:         Officer Commanding, RAF Boscombe Down

24 Aug 1939:         Officer Commanding, No 75 Wing, AASF/RAFNI

xx xxx 1940:           Officer Commanding, RAF Sydenham

10 Feb 1941:         Officer Commanding, Air Component, No 75 Wing, RAFNI

22 Apr 1941:         Group Captain - ?, HQ Fighter Command. 

26 Mar 1943:         AOC, No 212 Group. 

xx Sep 1944:                     Director of Personnel (III) (Morale and Rehabilitation).

He commanded the R36 and the R38.  He was one of only five people to survive the R38 explosion over the Humber in 1921.  He later acted as Registrar during the Court of Inquiry into the loss of the R101 in 1930.

During his tenure in Northern Ireland (September 1940), he conducted experimental exercises together with Colonel J D Woodhall in Army/Air Co-operation.  These exercises led to the "Wann-Woodhall" report, which was used as a basis for the operations of Army Co-operation Command when it was formed in late 1940.

He died in France.