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Distribution of Duties - Air Ministry (1944-1945)


[CAS | VCASDCASACAS (Ops)|ACAS (G)ACAS (TR)ACAS (I)DACAS (I)ACAS (P)S6]

Department of the Chief of the Air Staff

Chief of the Air Staff (CAS)

Name Status/Rank Role/Duties/Notes
Sir Charles F A Portal MRAF Chief of the Air Staff
  1. All question of Air Force policy and planning.

  2. Advice on the conduct of air operations and issue of orders in regard threreof.

  3. Fighting efficiency of the RAF

The Department of the CAS is responsible for the following: -

R S Crawford   Private Secretary
H H Cox   Assistant Private Secretary
T I S Eeley Sqn Ldr Personal Assistant

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)

Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS)

 

Name Status Role/Duties
Douglas C S Evill AM Vice Chief of the Air Staff

Duties delegated by CAS and attendance at meetings of the War Cabinet and Chiefs of Staff Committee in the absence of the CAS.

M H Higgins   Private Secretary
G Burges Gp Capt Staff Officer to VCAS
S T Gunnis Higher Clerical Officer Personal Assistant
S M Kilpatrick Flt Off Flt Off to VCAS

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)

Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS)

Name Status Role/Duties
Sir Norman H Bottomley AM Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
  1. Responsibility under CAS and VCAS for: -

    1. General operational directions issued by the Air Staff to RAF Commands, the co-ordination of operations between RAF Commands and Allied Air Forces, and the detailed study of future operations.

    2. The study and development of Air Tactics and guidance to the appropriate Air Staff branches and to DG of S on the trend of operational needs.

  2. Control of Colonel Turner's Branch and the Air Ministry War Room.

Chairman: -

  • Inter-Services Committee on Chemical Warfare (War Cabinet)

  • Inter-Services Sub-Committee on Biological Warfare (War Cabinet)

  • Air Ministry representative on the Joint Committee on Research and Development Priorities (War Cabinet)

W F Dry Gp Capt Staff Officer to DCAS
A C Kett Air Service Clerk Grade I Personal Assistant

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)

Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) (ACAS (Ops))

Name Status/Rank Role/Duties
Thomas M Williams AVM Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations)
  1. Responsibility under DCAS for advice on the dot to day conduct of air operations.

  2. Control of D of Ops (AD), D B Ops, D of Ops (Tac), D of Ops (M), DAT, D of Nav and D D Science.

Chairman: -

  • Bomb Provisioning Policy Committee

  • Operational Research Committee

  • Meteorological Policy Committee

  • Air Navigation Committee

Member: -

  • Night Air Defence Committee (War Cabinet)

  • Aircrew State Committee

  • Home Defence Committees (War Cabinet)

  • War Cabinet Anti U-boat Committee

ACAS (Ops) is responsible for the following: -

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)

Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (General) (ACAS (G))

Name Status/Rank Role/Duties
Sir Richard H Peck AM Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (General)
  1. Responsibility under VCAS for the Air Staff aspects of Public Relations.  Liaison with DPR on press and publicity matters, including broadcasts and films.

  2. Responsibility for the Air Staff aspects of the Official Histories.

  3. Control of DGGD, DSD and DDCP

ACAS (G) is responsible for the following: -

P C Vane-Tempest Flt Off Staff Officer to ACAS (G)

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)

Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Technical Requirements) (ACAS (TR))

Name Status/Rank Role/Duties
J D Breakey AVM Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Technical Requirements)
  1. Control of DG Arm in respect of Armament requirements and Development Policy.

  2. Control of DOR and DD Photos.

  3. Responsibility for the preparation of all Air Staff requirements (except for Signals matters), Air Staff aspect of modifications to airframes, balloon, engines and equipment.

  4. Liaison with Directorates of Operations and with Commands on matters of operational requirements.

  5. Liaison with Ministry of Aircraft Production.

ACAS (TR) is responsible for the following: -

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)

Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Intelligence) (ACAS (I))

Name Status/Rank Role/Duties
F F Inglis AVM Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Intelligence)
Control of
J A Easton A/Cdre Deputy Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Intelligence)
G S Hebron Sqn Ldr Staff Officer to ACAS (I)

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)

Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Policy) (ACAS (P))

Name Status/Rank Role/Duties
William F Dickson AVM Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Policy)
  1. Responsibility under CAS and VCAS for all question of Air Staff Policy and planning.

  2. Control of D of Plans, DPHP, D of Pol (A), D of Pol (G), DAFL and DATPO*

*Reports to ACAS (OPs) on operational matters.

ACAS (P) is responsible for the following: -

J A McCorquodale Sqn Ldr Staff Officer to ACAS (P)
W D Rusbatch Higher Clerical Officer Personal Assistant

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)

Secretarial Division allotted to the Department of the CAS (S6)

Name Status/Rank Role/Duties
 
R C Chilver Assistant Secretary Head of Division
R L Sykes

M W Low

R Maudling

Mrs M D Mitchell

Temporary Administrative Officer

Temporary Administrative Officer

Temporary Administrative Officer

Temporary Administrative Officer

Co-ordination and correspondence in the Department of CAS
Miss S G McLaren

Vacant

Senior Temporary Assistant

Higher Clerical Officer

Preparation of Air Council letters, memoranda, etc for the Department of the CAS.

War Cabinet records.

Air Ministry liaison with Inspector-General and Inspector of the WAAF

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)

This page was last updated on 19/07/22

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