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APPENDIX II

Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief, 1936–1941


Date of Appointment

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BOMBER COMMAND
Air Chief Marshal Sir John M. Steel, G.C.B., K.B.E., C.M.G. 14th July 1936
Air Chief Marshal Sir Edgar R. Ludlow-Hewitt, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., M.C. 12th September 1937
Air Marshal Sir Charles F. A. Portal, K.C.B., D.S.O., M.C. 3rd April 1940
Air Marshal Sir Richard E. C. Peirse, K.C.B., D.S.O., A.F.C. 5th October 1940
FIGHTER COMMAND
Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh C. T. Dowding, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., C.M.G., A.D.C. 14th July 1936
Air Marshal Sir W. Sholto Douglas, K.C.B., M.C., D.F.C. 25th November 1940
COASTAL COMMAND
Air Marshal Sir Arthur M. Longmore, K.C.B., D.S.O. 14th July 1936
Air Marshal P. B. Joubert de la Ferté, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. 1st September 1940
Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick W. Bowhill, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. 18th August 1937
Air Chief Marshal P. B. Joubert de la Ferté, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. 14th June 1941
BRITISH AIR FORCES IN FRANCE1
Air Marshal A. S. Barratt, C.B., C.M.G., M.C. 15th January 1940
ARMY COOPERATION COMMAND
Air Marshal Sir Arthur S. Barratt, K.C.B., C.M.G., M.C. 20th November 1940
TRAINING COMMAND2
Air Marshal Sir Charles S. Burnett, K.C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O. 1st May 1936

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Date of Appointment
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur M. Longmore, K.C.B., D.S.O. 1st July 1939
FLYING TRAINING COMMAND
Air Marshal L. A. Pattinson, C.B., D.S.O., M.C. 27th May 1940
Air Marshal Sir William L. Welsh, K.C.B., D.S.C., A.F.C. 7th July 1941
MAINTENANCE COMMAND
Air Marshal J. S. T. Bradley, C.B.E. 31st March 1938
TECHNICAL TRAINING COMMAND
Air Marshal Sir William L. Welsh, K.C.B., D.S.C., A.F.C. 27th May 1940
Air Marshal J. T. Babington, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O. 7th July 1941

OVERSEAS

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, FAR EAST3
Air Chief Marshal Sir H. Robert M. Brooke-Popham, G.C.V.O., K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., M.C., A.F.C. 18th November 1940
ROYAL AIR FORCE, MIDDLE EAST
Air Chief Marshal Sir William G. S. Mitchell, K.C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., A.F.C. 1st April 1939
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur M. Longmore, G.C.B, D.S.O. 13th May 1940
Air Marshal A. W. Tedder, C.B. 1st June 1941
AIR FORCES IN INDIA
Air Marshal Sir John F. A. Higgins, K.C.B., K.B.E., D.S.O., A.F.C. 6th October 1939
Air Marshal Sir Patrick H. L. Playfair, K.B.E., C.B., C.V.O., M.C. 26th September 1940
R.A.F. FERRY COMMAND
Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick W. Bowhill, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. 18th July 1941

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Footnotes

1 The Advanced Air Striking Force and the Air Component, which were brought under Air Vice-Marshal Baratt's Command on this date, were commanded by Air Vice-Marshal P. H. L. Playfair, C.B., C.V.O., M.C. and Air Vice-marshal C. H. B. Blount, O.B.E., M.C., respectively.

2 Disbnaded on formation of Flying Training and Technical Training Commands—27th May 1940.

3 Royal Air Forces Far East was not at this date under the command of an Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief. R.A.F. units in the Force were,ho wever, under the command of Air Vice-Marshal J. T. Babington, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., from September 1938 to April 1941, and Air Vice-Marshal C. W. H. Pulford, C.B., O.B.E., D.S.O. from April 1941 to February 1942. From 18th November 1940 to 27th December 1941, however, Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham was Commander-in-Chief, Far East, with supreme control over and air, but not naval, forces.


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