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For detailed biographies of key RAF personnel (Air Commodore and higher) there is already an excellent website: www.rafweb.org
Only RAF officers of ranks below Air Commodore will be shown here in detail.

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D.R.S. Bader  to  P.H. Burt

Bader, [Sir] Douglas Robert Steuart Son of Frederick Roberts Bader and Jessie Scott­Mackenzie; married 1st, 1933, Olive Thelma Exley Edwards (died 1971); no children; 2nd, 1973, Mrs Joan Eileen Murray.	21.02.1910 Marylebone, London - 05.09.1982 London	F/O 06.06.1932 [26151] (retd 30.04.1933) (A?) F/Lt. 04.1940 (WS) F/Lt. 24.09.1940 (A) Sq.Ldr. 06.1940 (A) W/Cdr. 03.1941 (T) W/Cdr. 01.07.1945 (WS) W/Cdr. 01.12.1945 (A?) Gp.Capt. 06.1945 (retd 21.07.1946) Kt 12.06.1976 HM's birthday; for services to disabled people CBE 02.01.1956 New Year 56; for services to the disabled DSO 01.10.1940 * DSO 15.07.1941 ** DFC 07.01.1941 *** DFC 09.09.1941 **** MID 01.01.1941 ? MID 17.03.1941 ? MID 31.01.1947 ? LegH ? ? CdeG ? ? * This officer has displayed gallantry and leadership of the highest order. During three recent engagements he has led his squadron with such skill and ability that thirty-three enemy aircraft have been destroyed. In the course of these engagements Squadron Leader Bader has added to his previous successes by destroying six enemy aircraft. ** This officer has led his wing on a series of consistently successful sorties over enemy territory during the past three months. His high qualities of leadership and courage have been an inspiration to all. Wing Commander Bader has destroyed 15 hostile aircraft. *** Squadron Leader Bader has continued to lead nis squadron and wing with the utmost gallantry on all occasions. He has now destroyed a total of ten hostile aircraft and damaged several more. **** This fearless pilot has recently added a further four enemy aircraft to his previous successes; in addition he has probably destroyed another four and damaged five hostile aircraft. By his fine leadership and high courage Wing Commander Bader has inspired the wing on every occasion.	Education: St Edward's School, Oxford; RAF College, Cranwell 26.07.1930 first commission 12.1931 lost both legs in flying accident 05.1933 invalided out of RAF 1933 joined Asiatic Petroleum Co. Ltd 26.11.1939 - 21.07.1946 recalled to active service 02.1940 - 04.1940 19 Squadron 04.1940 - 06.1940 Flight Commander, A Flight, 222 Squadron 06.1940 - ? Commanding Officer, 242 Squadron ? - 09.08.1941 Commanding Officer, 12 Group Wing 09.08.1941 - 15.04.1945 captured after collision with enemy aircraft over Bethune; released by American 1st Army from Colditz, near Leipzig 11.07.1940 30.08.1940 15.09.1940 27.09.1940 23 victories: 1 Do 17 ½ Bf 110 ½ Do 17 1 Bf 109 Rejoined Shell Petroleum Co. (late Asiatic Petroleum Co.); Man. Dir, Shell Aircraft Ltd, 1958-69, retd. Led first post­war Battle of Britain fly­past, 15 September 1945. Member, Civil Aviation Authority, 1972-78; Chaiman, Flight Time Limitations Board, 1974-78. FRAeS 1976. Hon. DSc New Univ. of Ulster, 1976. DL Greater London, 1977. Published: Fight for the sky : the story of the Spitfire and the Hurricane (1973) Literature: Paul Brickhill, Reach for the sky
Badley, William	23.04.1887 - died between 04.1956 and 1996	Sq.Ldr. 01.01.1937 [13057] (T) W/Cdr. 01.06.1940 (retd 23.04.1942)   Gk AFC 29.12.1942 ?	01.04.1918 first commission RAF qualified at specialist engineering course 24.04.1942 - 23.01.1945 re-employed on active service
Bailey, Leonard Shaw Meadows Married R.A. Bailey (née ...).	30.03.1909 Amesbury, Wiltshire - died before 1996 [Enborne, nr Newbury]	Wt.Off. ? [507896] F/O (prob) 01.04.1940 [43412] F/O 01.04.1940 (WS) F/Lt. 01.04.1940 (A) Sq.Ldr. (1942) (T) Sq.Ldr. 01.06.1942 (WS) Sq.Ldr. 15.12.1944 Sq.Ldr. 01.01.1947, seniority 01.09.1945 (retd 31.12.1954; own request; retaining rank of W/Cdr.) (A) W/Cdr. ? DFC 23.03.1945 ? AFC 11.07.1940 ? MID 11.06.1942 ? MID ? ? 39|45 St ? ? AirEur St ? ? Def M ? ? BWM 39|45 ? ? LSGCM ? ?	01.04.1940   commissioned, RAF (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission] (1945) 35 Squadron RAF 01.01.1947 transferred, Aircraft Control Branch [extended service] 02.10.1948 permanent commission
Bailey, Sidney James	30.06.1894 St Olave Southwark, London - died between 04.1956 and 1996	F/Lt. ? [13218] Sq.Ldr. 01.01.1937 (A) Gp.Capt. ? (T) Gp.Capt. 01.01.1944 Gp.Capt. 01.07.1947 (retd 27.05.1949) CBE 01.01.1946 New Year 46 MBE 03.06.1930 HM's birthday 30	01.04.1918 first commission observer officer ? transferred from General Duties Branch to Secretarial Branch
Bain, Richard Erskine	26.10.1900 - died between 04.1956 and 1996	F/Lt. ? [17074] Sq.Ldr. 01.10.1936 (T) W/Cdr. 01.01.1940 (WS) W/Cdr. 01.11.1942 W/Cdr. 01.07.1947 (T) Gp.Capt. 01.01.1944-01.11.1947 (retd 01.07.1950)	13.11.1922 first commission (01.1939) - late 1939 Commanding Officer, 43 Squadron RAF (Tangmere)
Baker, Ernest Reginald "Reg(gie)" Son of William and Eliza Baker. Married (28.09.1940, Portsdown, Hampshire) Norma E.M. Snelling (born 1920), of Bedhampton, Hampshire, England; one daughter, one son.	30.03.1914 Doncaster, Yorkshire - 16.06.1944 (KIA) [age 30] [Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, France, XIII.H.11]	(A) P/O (prob) 07.05.1938 [40660] F/O 17.08.1940 (WS) F/Lt. 17.08.1941 (A) Sq.Ldr. 08.1942? (T) Sq.Ldr. 01.07.1943 (WS) Sq.Ldr. 02.04.1944 (A) W/Cdr. 05.12.1943? DSO 21.11.1944 * [with effect from 15.06.1944] (posthumously) [investiture next-of-kin 20.02.45] DFC 22.11.1940 U-boat attack 16.08.40 &tc. [investiture 03.03.41] DFC 01.10.1943 recent operations 08-09.43 * Since being awarded a bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross in August 1943, this officer has led a large number of fighter bomber attacks against enemy shipping and constructional targets and has personally destroyed three enemy aircraft. In October 1943, Wing Commander Baker carried out a hazardous attack at point blank range on enemy shipping under heavy fire, to score a direct hit. By his outstanding leadership, courage, and determination, he has set a splendid example to his officers and men.	07.05.1938 first commission, RAF (General Duties Branch) [short service commission] 17.01.1942 transferred, Reserve of Air Force Officers (and called up for Air Force service) (1939) - 30.05.1942 210 Squadron RAF 04.1941 - 12.1941 seconded for a specialist navigation course (Ottawa, Ont., Canada), but was on arrival diverted to ferrying between Bermuda and England; 08.1941 back in the UK, but then off again to Canada for his course (15.09-26.12.1941) 31.05.1942 - 28.07.1942 240 Squadron RAF (on his way to India crashed at Malta; wounded) 07.1942 - 09.1942 hospitalized, then temporary Chief Navigation Officer at HQ Malta 02.09.1942 No 1 Depot RAF, UK (pending repatriation) 09.1942 - 10.1942 possibly serving with 263 Squadron RAF 06.10.1942 HQ No. 9 Group RAF (for navigational duties) 05.11.1942 HQ Fighter Command (for navigational duties) 29.12.1942 refresher course, 59 Operational Training Unit (Millfield, Northumberland) 11.02.1943 182 Squadron RAF (Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, from 05.04.1943 Fairlop, from 29.04.1943 Lasham) (wounded 13.05.1943, in hospital till 27.05.1943) 15.06.1943 Commanding Officer, 263 Squadron RAF (Warmwell, Dorset; 19.06.1943 Zeals, Wiltshire; 12.07.1943 Warmwell; 07.09.1943 Manston, Kent; 10.09.1943 Warmwell) 05.12.1943     Wing Commander (Flying) Colerne and taken by Oxford to Fighter Leaders Course Ashton Down 01.1944 - 16.06.1944 Wing Commander (Flying) 193 Squadron (Harrowbeer), 01.02.1944 redesignated: Commander Flying of No. 146 Airfield (11.05.1944 redesignated No. 146 Wing) [crashed near St. Mauvieu, France] Honorary Freedom of Doncaster, 30.06.1941.
Baker, George Brindley Aufrere	25.07.1894 - 23.10.1968	... ... (T) Air Vice Marshal 10.01.1941 (retd 28.07.1946)	... - ... ... 1940 Member, British Purchasing Mission, USA 12.09.1941 Senior Air Staff Officer, HQ Coastal Command 01.01.1943 AOA, HQ Technical Training Command 01.07.1944 - 1945 Chief of Staff RAF (Air), Mediterranean Allied Air Forces 01.12.1945 Director of Training (Plans) in Department of Air Member for Training
Baker, Thomas Herbert "Tom"	16.08.1913 Deolali, Bombay, India - 09.03.2006 [Grantham ?], Suffolk	Sgt. ? [563032] P/O (prob) 18.04.1941, seniority 09.04.1941 [45552] (A) F/O (1941) (WS) F/O 22.01.1942 (WS) F/Lt. 22.01.1943 F/Lt. 01.07.1946, seniority 01.01.1943 Sq.Ldr. 01.11.1947, seniority 01.08.1947 W/Cdr. 01.01.1955 (retd 28.01.1958) DFC 12.09.1941 raid on Knapsack power station 12.08.41 DFM 24.12.1940 ? MID 12.1941 ?	Education: Portsmouth and Lancaster Grammar Schools 01.1921 joined RAF at Halton as an Aircraft Apprentice 1939 observer, 90 Squadron RAF 07.1940 observer, 107 Squadron RAF (Wattisham, Suffolk) 18.04.1941 first commission, RAF (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission to 30.06.1946] 04.1941 - 17.04.1942 observer (later instructor & bombing leader), 114 Squadron RAF (Norfolk) [taken off 21.36 hrs 17.04.1942 in Blenheim Z7430 RT-Q from West Raynham for an Intruder operation to Schiphol Airport (The Netherlands); damaged by light Flak and crash-landed 23.22 hrs at Aalsmeer; wounded & captured] 17.04.1942 - 29.04.1945 POW in German captivity at Stalag Luft III (Sagan), from 02.1945 Stalag Luft VIIID (Nuremburg) 01.07.1946     permanent commission ... - ... ...
Baldwin, Sir John Eustace Arthur "Jack" Eldest son of late J.H.L. Baldwin. Married Kathleen Betsy, youngest daughter of T.W.L. Terry, York; one daughter. see: www.rafweb.org	13.04.1892 - 28.07.1975	... ... (A) Air Marshal (retd) 10.10.1942	Education: Rugby; Royal Military College, Sandhurst 28.08.1939 - 14.09.1942 Air Officer Commanding, No. 3 Group RAF 09.01.1942 - 21.02.1942 Acting Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Bomber Command 09.10.1942 - 1943 Deputy Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, India 16.11.1943 - 1944 Air Officer Commanding, 3rd Tactical Air Force Colonel, 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, 01.01.1948-24.10.1958. Deputy Colonel, Queen's Royal Irish Hussars, 24.10.1958-1960. OStJ, 24.06.1952. CStJ, 01.07.1955. KStJ, 03.07.1962. Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Lincoln, 06.11.1945. Justice of the Peace (JP), Rutland. Sheriff, Rutland, 12.11.1952. High Sheriff, Rutland, 17.03.1955.
Baldwin, John Robert	? - 15.03.1952 Korea	(T) F/Sgt. ? [908634] P/O 14.03.1942 [122337] ... ... Sq.Ldr. 01.09.1945 (A) W/Cdr. ? DSO ? ? DFC ? ? AFC 01.01.1948 ? DFC(US) 30.10.1953 ?	14.03.1942 first commission RAF (General Duties Branch) 1942 - 1944 Typhoon pilot with 15 victories led a team of four pilots from the RAF Central Fighter Establishment on attachment to the USAF in Korea (flew with the 16th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing)
Balean, Peter Bradford	25.08.1920 - 1996 [Saint Andrew Churchyard Cranwell, Lincolnshire]	P/O 23.12.1939 [33531] ... ... Sq.Ldr. 01.08.1947 (retd 12.06.1950)	23.12.1939 first commission RAF (General Duties Branch)
Ballantyne, Gordon Arthur Eldest son of late John Alexander and Ida Ballantyne. Married 1st (1925) Brenda Muriel, daughter of Rev. Bernard Cuzner; one daughter. Married 2nd (1945) Rachel Mary, elder daughter of late Francis Reid Brown.	12.02.1900 Wandsworth, London - 07.11.1981 Canterbury, Kent	RNAS: (P) F/O 1917 Army: 2nd Lt. ? (T) Lt. 01.01.1924 Lt. 28.08.1924 Capt. 01.07.1927 (retd 05.01.1929) Capt. 02.09.1929, seniority 25.02.1928 RAF: (T) F/O [?] 1918 [23096] (T) F/O 01.01.1924 (T) F/Lt. ? F/Lt. 01.07.1930 Sq.Ldr. 28.08.1934 W/Cdr. 01.07.1937 (A) Gp.Capt. 1941 (T) Gp.Capt. 01.03.1942 Gp.Capt. 01.06.1943 (A) A/Cdre. 1943 (T) A/Cdre. 1944 A/Cdre. 01.09.1947, seniority 01.07.1947 Air Vice-Marshal 01.10.1952 (retd 01.01.1955) CBE 14.06.1945 HM's birthday 45 DFC 1918 ?	Education: King's College School; London Hospital 1917 Probationary Flight Officer, Royal Naval Air Service 1917 - 1918 served in France with No 8 Squadron, RFC (France & Belgium; wounded) 01.04.1918 first commission RAF 11.09.1919 transferred to the unemployed list 1923 qualified as Dental Surgeon (LDS, RCS), General List, Army 01.01.1924 temporary commission RAF (Medical Branch) [on attachment to the RAF] 1924 Lieutenant, Army Dental Corps 05.09.1927 - 05.01.1929 returned to Army duty (resigned comission) 02.09.1929 - 01.07.1930 served again in the Army Dental Corps 01.07.1930 permanent commission, RAF (Dental Branch) 1935 Senior Dental Officer, Iraq 1938 Inspecting Dental Officer, Home Commands 1941 Training Officer (Dental) 01.06.1943 - (04.)1954 Director of Dental Services, Directorate- General of RAF Medical Services, Air Ministry FDSRCS; FDSRCS (Edin.) Honorary Dental Surgeon to King George VI, 13.04.1945-10.06.1952 & to Queen Elizabeth II, 10.06.1952-01.01.1955. Member Board of Faculty of Dental Surgery of Royal College of Surgeons of England, 1947-53; Honorary member, British Dental Association; Honorary President Armed Forces Commission, Federation Dentaire Internationale, 1953; Honorary Dental Surgeon to the Queen, 1952-54. Published: various professional papers
Bandon, 5th Earl of, cr. 1880, succ. 1924; Baron Bandon, cr. 1793; Viscount Bandon, cr. 1795; Viscount Bernard, cr. 1800; Bernard, Percy Ronald Gardner Son of late Lt­Col Ronald P. H. Bernard and Lettice Mina, younger daughter of late Captain Gerald C. S. Paget (she married 2nd, late Hon. Charles C. J. Littleton, DSO); married 1st, 1933, Elizabeth (marr. diss., 1946; she married 1965, Sir Reginald Holcroft, 2nd Bt, TD), 2nd daughter of R. W. Playfair; two daughters; 2nd, 1946, Lois White, daughter of Francis Russell, Victoria, Australia.	30.08.1904 - 08.02.1979 [Bandon, Co. Cork ?]	P/O 17.12.1924 [16145] Sq.Ldr. 01.12.1936 Air Chief Marshal 01.07.1959 (retd 06.02.1964)   GBE 1961 ?   KBE 01.01.1957 ? CB 05.07.1945 ?   CVO 1953 ? DSO 30.07.1940 ? MID 01.01.1941 ? MID 01.01.1943 ? MID 01.01.1945 ?   DFC(US) 20.12.1946 ?	Education: Wellington; RAF College, Cranwell (psa); RAF Staff College (1938); Imperial Defence College (idc, 1949) 1939 - 1940 commanded No 82 Squadron 1941 - 1942 commanded RAF Station, West Raynham 1945     AOC No 224 Group, South­East Asia (despatches thrice, US DFC and Bronze Star) 1945 - 1948 Commandant, ROC 1950 - 1951 AOC No 2 Group, BAFO, Germany 1951 - 1953 AOC No 11 Group 01.10.1953 - 12.1955 Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Training), Air Ministry 1955 - 1957 Commander-in-Chief, 2nd Tactical Air Force, and Comdr, 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force 1957 - 1960 Commander-in-Chief, Far East Air Force 1961 - 1963 Commander, Allied Air Forces, Central Europe
Bardon, Harold Rice	17.11.1902 - 09.1986 Winchester, Hampshire	Sq.Ldr. 01.04.1937 [19178] (T) W/Cdr. 01.03.1940 (retd 14.10.1947; medical unfitness)	31.03.1925 first commission qualified at a specialist course in engineering; additionally qualified at university course in engineering 24.04.1940 transferred fron the General Duties Branch to the Technical Branch
Barling, Leslie Clement Son of Percy Clement Barling and Julia Bertwell; married 1st Claudia E.T. Phillips (02.1939); married 2nd Katherine Yvonne Beith or Clifford-Turner; one son.	13.12.1901 Chertsey - 08.04.1984 Cheltenham	Sq.Ldr. RAFO 12.09.1939	1930 - ? 24 Squadron
Barnett, Reginald James William Only son of Mr and Mrs W. Barnett, formerly from Dover and Capel. Married (19.05.1936, Southsea) Diana Mary Allan (born 27.07.1913, Reigate, Surrey) [her elder sister married F/Lt. J.F.L. Zorn, RAFO]; three children.	(03?).1909 Dover district, Kent - 15.02.1943 (flying accident at asmara airport) [age 33] [Asmara War Cemetery, Eritrea, 3.D.3]	P/O (prob) 11.04.1930 [29057] P/O 11.04.1931 F/O 13.10.1931 F/Lt. 01.02.1936	Education: Godwynhurst College, Dover Secretary of the Dover Motor Cycle Club. 11.04.1930 commissioned, RAF (General Duties Branch) [short service commission] 11.04.1936 transferred, Reserve of Air Force Officers (Class A); joined Imperial Airways, flying in Africa since 1940 Engaged as as a pilot by Portsmouth, Southsea, and Isle of Wight Aviation, then joined Imperial Airways. 10.1937 posted to Empire Flying boat Operations as 1st Officer. Two years later transferred for a short time to European Landplan