John Davis (RAF officer)

Air chief marshal Sir John Gilbert Davis, GCB, OBE, KStJ (24 March 1911 – 3 February 1989) was a Royal Air Force officer who served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Training Command from 1968 to 1969.

Sir

John Davis
Air Chief Marshal Sir John Davis
Born(1911-03-24)24 March 1911
Whitby, North Riding of Yorkshire
Died3 February 1989(1989-02-03) (aged 77)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1933–69
RankAir chief marshal
CommandsRAF Training Command (1968–69)
RAF Flying Training Command (1966–67)
Air Member for Supply and Organisation (1963–66)
RAF Malta (1961–63)
No. 1 Group (1959–61)
RAF Topcliffe (1953–55)
RAF St Eval (1945)
RAF Lagens (1944–45)
No. 269 Squadron (1942–43)
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Knight of the Order of St John
Mentioned in dispatches
Other workLieutenant Governor of Jersey

RAF career

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Davis joined the Royal Air Force in 1933.[1] He became a pilot and then attended specialist training in navigation before being appointed a Navigation Staff Officer at Headquarters RAF Training Command in 1939.[1] He served in the Second World War, initially on secondment to the Turkish Air Force and then as Officer Commanding No. 269 Squadron.[1]

After the war he attended RAF Staff College and then joined the directing staff there.[1] He was appointed Group Captain, Air Plans at Headquarters Middle East Air Force in 1951, Station Commander at RAF Topcliffe in 1953 and Director of Plans at the Air Ministry in 1955.[1] He went on to be Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters RAF Bomber Command in 1958, Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group in 1959 and Air Officer Commanding RAF Malta in 1961.[1] His last appointments were as Air Member for Supply and Organisation in 1963, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Flying Training Command in 1966 and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Training Command in 1968 before retiring in 1969.[1]

In retirement he became Lieutenant Governor of Jersey.[2]

References

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Military offices
New title Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command
1968–1969
Succeeded by
Preceded by Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Flying Training Command
1966–1968
Command disbanded
Preceded by Air Member for Supply and Organisation
1963–1966
Succeeded by
Preceded by Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group
1959–1961
Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Jersey
1969–1974
Succeeded by