Royal Air Force Officers 1939-1945 -- R

Royal Air Force (RAF) Officers
1939-1945

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Only RAF officers of ranks below Air Commodore will be shown here in detail.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

J. Rankin to D.W.R. Ryley

Rankin,
James
1913
-

F/O
16.10.1937 [37210]

W/Cdr.
?

Gp.Capt.
01.07.1952

A/Cdre.
?

DSO
?
?

DSO
?
?

DFC
?
?

DFC
?
?

02.1941

CO 92 Squadron

04.1942
-
07.1942
Wing Leader Biggin Hill

Wing Commander Training, 11 Group

Ranson,
George Edward
G.E. Ranson ?
-

Sq.Ldr.
01.02.1932

Rapley,
Cyril
C. Rapley ?
-

Sq.Ldr.
01.07.1936

qualified at specialist engineering course

Rawlins,
Sydney John
25.07.1921
-
05.11.2007

P/O
05.08.1939 [42437]

...
...

Gp.Capt.
01.01.1966 (retd 27.03.1976)

DFC
?
?

05.08.1939

commissioned, RAF (General Duties Branch)

FIMgt

Redmond,
Edwin John *
E.J. Redmond
* also found as: Edward John 23.12.1902
-

?
? [352623]

F/O (prob)
27.11.1941, seniority 01.11.1941 [47575]

F/Lt.
01.09.1945 (retd 30.03.1947)

MBE ? ?

27.11.1941

commissioned, RAF (Technical Branch) [emergency commission]

09.05.1946

extended service

Rees,
Vivian
V. Rees ?
-

Sq.Ldr.
01.07.1936

qualified at specialist engineering course; additionally qualified at university course in engineering

Rhind,
George Bruce Milligan
G.B.M. Rhind (06?).1904
Portsmouth, Hampshire
-

Sq.Ldr.
01.12.1936

qualified at a specialist course in engineering; additionally qualified at university course in engineering

Riddell,
Robert Nesbitt
R.N. Riddell ?
-

Sq.Ldr. RAFO
01.09.1939

Ridley,
Claude
C. Ridley ?
-

Sq.Ldr. (retd)
01.01.1925

DSO
?
?

MC
?
?

Robb,
Sir James Milne
J.M. Robb

26.01.1895
-
18.12.1968

...
...

(A) Air Marshal
15.10.1944

Air Marshal
01.01.1946

Air Chief Marshal
01.10.1948

...
-
...
...

14.12.1936
-
1940
Commandant, Central Flying School

17.04.1940

Air Officer Commanding, No 2 (Bomber) Group

23.02.1941

Air Officer Commanding, No 15 (Reconnaissance) Group

1942

Deputy Chief of Combined Operations

04.12.1942

Deputy Air Commander, ?

11.03.1943
-
1944
Deputy Air Commander, North West African Air Forces/Air Officer Commanding, RAF North West Africa

1944

Staff, HQ Mediterranean Allied Air Forces

1944
-
1945
Deputy Chief of Staff (Air), SHAEF

14.05.1945
-
1947
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Fighter Command RAF

...
-
...
...

Roberts,
David Neal
D.N. Roberts 04.06.1906
Cuckfield, Sussex
-
10.2000
Andover, Hampshire

Sq.Ldr.
01.04.1937

AFC
?
?

Robinson,
Michael Lister
M.L. Robinson

F/O
16.04.1938 [37300]

W/Cdr.
?

DSO
?
?

DFC
?
?

08.1942
-
09.1942
Wing Leader Biggin Hill

Roe,
Derek John Aubrey
D.J.A. Roe ?
-

P/O (RAFO)
23.09.1938 [70818]

F/O (RAFO)
23.03.1940

(A) F/Lt. (RAFO)

(WS) F/Lt. (RAFO)
23.03.1941

(T) Sq.Ldr.
03.12.1946, seniority 01.06.1942

Sq.Ldr.
01.09.1945

W/Cdr.
01.07.1951

DSO
26.05.1942
?

DFC
22.11.1940
?

MID
01.01.1941
?

Education: psa, pfc

(1940)

107 Squadron

(1942)

82 Squadron

12.02.1952
-
(04.1956)
Operations and Training, Allied Forces Northern Europe (RAF Element)

Roe,
Edmund Charles
E.C. Roe 04.05.1906
Portsmouth, Hampshire
-
10.1995
Norwich, Norfolk

F/Sgt.
? [362991]

(A) P/O (prob)
08.07.1941 [46359]

P/O (prob)
?

P/O
15.08.1942

(WS) F/O
05.09.1942, seniority 29.07.1942

(T) F/Lt.
?

(WS) F/Lt.
18.11.1945

(A) Sq.Ldr.
? (retd 02.09.1946)

08.07.1941

first commission RAF (Technical Branch)

Roe,
Richard George
R.G. Roe
Brother of Robert Douglas Roe.
10.10.1916
-
07.2003
Keighley, Yorkshire

?
[unclear if he was an officer]

Education: engineering

served RAF

Roe,
Thomas Benjamin Edward
T.B.E. Roe 10.08.1902
Fulham, Greater London
-

P/O
? [45132]

F/O (prob)
?

(WS) F/O
01.06.1941

F/O
06.11.1941

(T) F/Lt.
?

(WS) F/Lt.
01.11.1943

F/Lt.
01.09.1945

(T) Sq.Ldr.
01.09.1942 (retd 03.06.1948)

22.10.1940

first commission RAF (Technical Branch)

Roe,
Valcourt Desmond Meredith
V.D.M. Roe
Son of Capt. Charles Edward Meredith Roe and Marie Eveleen Roe, of Talawakele, Ceylon.
(12?).1911
Portsmouth, Hampshire
-
14.05.1940
(KIA) [age 28]
[Choloy War Cemetery, 2.J.8]

(A) P/O
19.08.1939 [42530]

P/O
?

?
-
14.05.1940
73 Squadron

Roe,
William Sleath
W.S. Roe 05.07.1914
-
06.2004
Salford, Lancashire

(A) P/O (prob)
17.04.1939 [31376]

P/O (prob)
17.07.1939

P/O
17.04.1940

F/O
17.04.1940

(T) F/Lt.
?

(WS) F/Lt.
06.10.1944

served RAF (Equipment Branch)

Rook,
Michael
"Mike"
M. Rook ?
-

P/O
24.08.1939 [90077]

F/O
08.08.1940

(WS) F/Lt.
08.08.1941

F/Lt.
11.12.1946, seniority 25.08.1946

(A) Sq.Ldr.
1942?

(T) Sq.Ldr.
01.07.1943

(WS) Sq.Ldr.
23.04.1944

DFC
16.02.1943
*

* This officer has rendered valuable service during an extensive period of operational flying. He served in France and later fought in the Battle of Britain when he destroyed 2 enemy aircraft. During operations in Russia he destroyed a Messerschmitt 109. On 8th November, 1942, during the assault on Algiers, this officer led his squadron on a flight to Maison Blanche airfield before it was known that the airfield had been captured. The squadron reached the airfield at an early hour and its arrival had a most beneficial effect on the fighting and on the negotiations that were proceeding. Squadron Leader Rook's energetic leadership and splendid example have contributed materially to successes achieved by his squadron, which has completed a large number of hours flying since its arrival in North Africa.

1930s

joined Auxiliary Air Force

24.08.1939

mobilized

(01.07.1940)

504 Squadron

81 Squadron

(11.1942)

CO 43 Squadron

15.09.1940
27.09.1940 6 victories:
½ Do 17
1 Bf 110

Rothwell,
Talbot Nelson Conn
"Tolly"
T.N.C. Rothwell (Photo courtesy of Mr Brian Deacon)

Wikipedia
Carry On Line
12.11.1916
Bromley, Kent
-
28.02.1981
Worthing, Sussex

(A) P/O (prob)
14.12.1938 [41475]

P/O (prob)
03.09.1939

P/O
06.10.1939

(WS) F/O
03.09.1940

(WS) F/Lt.
03.09.1941

F/Lt.
01.11.1947, seniority 01.09.1945

OBE
1977
services to the cinema industry

14.12.1938

first commission, RAF (General Duties Branch) [short service commission]

?
-
13.06.1940
pilot, 224 Squadron RAF
[shot down in his Hudson I [N7359 „QX-Q“] northwest of Stavanger by Flak of the 3. Räumbootsflottille while on a special coastal reconnaissance; taken off from Leuchars at 06.25 hrs]

13.06.1940
-
1945?
POW in German captivity at Stalag Luft III

06.11.1945

transferred to Reserve of Air Force Officers, dated 06.10.1942 (and called up for Air Force service)

06.10.1948

granted an extension of service for five years in Class 'C' [extended by 5 years with effect from 06.10.1953]

Writer of 22 Carry On films.

Routh,
Eric John Daubeney
E.J.D. Routh ± 1895
Malta
-

Sq.Ldr.
17.07.1929

Rowland,
Frederick Cecil
F.C. Rowland 13.11.1902
-
04.1988
Surrey South-Western

Sq.Ldr.
01.04.1937

qualified at specialist engineering course

Royce,
Michael Elliott Appelbee
"Scruffy"
M.E.A. Royce
Brother of W/Cdr. William Barrington Royce, RAuxAF.
(12?).1919
Mansfield district, Derbyshire / Nottinghamshire
-
1998
Isle of Wight

P/O
28.06.1938 [90076]

F/O
28.12.1939

(WS) F/Lt.
28.12.1940

(T) Sq.Ldr.
01.07.1943

28.06.1938

commissioned, Auxiliary Air Force (General Duties Branch): 504 (County of Nottingham) (Bomber) Squadron AuxAF

24.08.1939

mobilized

504 Squadron RAuxAF

15.09.1940

flew Hurricane L 1913, was hit 1225 hrs over London, but only suffered repairable damage; returned to RAF Base Hendeon with oil cooler problem after combat action

Royce,
William Barrington
"Joe"
W.B. Royce
Brother of Sq.Ldr. Michael Elliott Appelbee Royce, RAuxAF.
?
-

P/O (prob)
04.06.1932 [90062]

P/O
22.05.1933

F/O
04.12.1933

F/Lt.
03.09.1939

(T) Sq.Ldr.
01.12.1940

(T) W/Cdr.
01.03.1942

(WS) W/Cdr.
17.08.1944

W/Cdr.
? (retd 22.08.1958; retaining rank of Gp.Capt.)

DFC
31.05.1940
*

* This officer assumed command of a squadron after its three previous commanders had been lost. One day in May his squadron had completed seven sorties, including two ground attacks, by 1300 hours and were eager to go out yet again. Flight Lieutenant Royce shot down four enemy aircraft. He led the squadron in a most efficient and determined manner.

04.06.1932

commissioned, Royal Air Force Reserve - Special Reserve (General Duties Branch)

18.05.1936

transferred, Auxiliary Air Force (General Duties Branch): 504 (County of Nottingham) (Bomber) Squadron AuxAF

24.08.1939

mobilized

(01.07.1940)

504 Squadron RAuxAF

4 victories

Ryde,
John Alexander Thomson
J.A.T. Ryde 19.07.1904
Scarborough, Yorkshire
-

Sq.Ldr.
01.12.1936

W/Cdr.
?

(T) Gp.Capt.
01.12.1941 (retd 17.11.1945)

AFC
?
?

03.07.1924

first commission

Ryley,
Douglas William Robert
D.W.R. Ryley 11.11.1905
-
01.1986
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Sq.Ldr.
01.04.1937

qualified at a specialist armament course

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z