C D Adams

Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Commodore C D Adams (06173)

Cyril Douglas b: 18 Sep 1897 r: 17 Nov 1949 d 19 Aug 1988

CB - 1 Jan 1948, OBE - 31 Mar 1942, MiD - 17 Mar 1941, MiD - 11 Jun 1942, MiD - 2 Jun 1943, MiD - 8 Jun 1944, MiD – 1 Jan 1946.

(Army) Pte: 16 May 1915,

(RAF) (T) 2 Lt: 21 Jul 1918, Plt Off: 1 Aug 1919, Fg Off: 16 Sep 1919, Flt Lt: 1 Jan 1927, Sqn Ldr: 1 Feb 1936, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1939, Act Gp Capt: 10 Jan - 14 Mar 1941, 16 Mar 1941, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Jun 1941, Act A/Cdre: 25 Sep 1944, Gp Capt (WS): 25 Mar 1945, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1946 - 1 Nov 1947, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1946, Act A/Cdre: 1 Nov 1947 - 5 Feb 1948, 1 Apr 1948, A/Cdre: 16 Nov 1949.

16 May 1915: Private, Army Ordnance Corps

2 Jan 1918: RFC

27 Jan 1918: Egypt

31 Mar 1918: Attended No 3 School of Military Aeronautics.

xx Jun 1918: No 21 Training Sqn

xx Jun 1918: No 195 Training Sqn

19 Jul 1918: Discharged from Army on appointment to a Commission.

21 Jul 1918: Pilot (Aeroplane & Seaplane Branch), RAF

23 Jul 1918: Attended School of Aerial Gunnery

5 Aug 1918: Attended No 5 Fighting School

12 Sep 1918: Assistant Instructor, No 19 Training Depot Station

15 Dec 1918: Instructor, No 19 Training Depot Station

5 Jan 1919: Awaiting disposal, No 19 Training Depot Station

12 Jun 1919: Returned to Home Establishment

25 Jul 1919: HQ, South East Area for disposal

29 Aug 1919: No 2 (Training) Group, Uxbridge

16 Sep 1919: Granted a short Service Commission (Aeroplane Branch) in the rank of Flying Officer

12 Oct 1919: RAF Depot, Uxbridge

2 Feb 1920: Instructor, No 30 Training Sqn, Northolt

16 Feb 1929: Attached, No 2 Group

27 Feb 1920:

18 Mar 1920: Flying Instructor, No 1 FTS.

6 Apr - 2 Jun 1920: Attended Parachute Course, No 1 School of Technical Training, Halton

16 Jul 1920: Attached, RAF Worthy Down

3 Nov 1920: RAF Depot

3 Jan 1921: Flying Instructor, No 1 FTS.

28 Nov 1922: Granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flying Officer. (wef 16 Sep 1919)

29 Mar - 16 Apr 1924: Attended Oxygen Course, No 1 Stores Depot.

22 Sep 1925: Personnel Staff, HQ Iraq Command

12 Sep 1927: Air Staff (PT & Games), HQ RAF Halton

27 Mar 1930: Catergorised as Flying Instructor - Category 'B'

5 Feb 1936: Officer Commanding, No XV Sqn.

15 Feb - 28 Mar 1938: Attached to Swedish Air Force

4 - 12 Apr 1938: Attached to the Air Ministry

2 May 1938: Air Staff (Ops and Training), HQ Bomber Command

7 Jun 1938: Supernumerary -Non effective (sick), RAF Depot

15 Aug 1938: Air Staff (Ops and Training), HQ Bomber Command

8 Feb 1939: Officer Commanding, No 38 Sqn.

20 Feb - 6 Mar 1939: Attended Wellington Conversion Course, No 98 Sqn.

1 Dec 1939: Supernumerary, HQ No 3 (Bomber) Group.

9 Dec 1939: SOA, HQ No 3 (Bomber) Group.

28 Sep 1940: Attached, RAF Stradishall.

26 Oct 1940: Officer Commanding, RAF Kemble.

19 Dec 1940: Administrative Staff, HQ No 3 (Bomber) Group

14 Mar 1941: Supernumerary, RAF Oakington.

16 Mar 1941: Officer Commanding, RAF Oakington.

3 Sep 1942: Supernumerary, No 10 OTU, RAF Abingdon.

11 Sep 1942: Officer Commanding, No 10 OTU, RAF Abingdon.

25 Sep1944: AOC, No 41 Base. (Marston Moor)

7 Nov 1944: AOC, No 74 Base. (Marston Moor)

30 Apr 1945: AOC, No 73 Base. (North Luffenham)

18 Jul 1945: AOA, HQ AHQ India.

1 Apr 1946: Officer Commanding (A/Cdre), RAF Base, Bombay.

27 Sep 1946: AOC, No 2 (Indian) Group.

15 Aug 1947: AOC, No 2 Group. RIAF

11 Nov 1947: Supernumerary, No 5 Personnel Despatch Centre (pending posting)

8 Jan 1948: Supernumerary, No 5 Personnel Despatch Centre (pending posting - Gp Capt)

5 Mar 1948: Supernumerary, No 5 Personnel Despatch Centre (pending posting overseas)

17 Mar 1948: Supernumerary, HQ No 85 Wing.

1 Apr 1948: AOC, HQ No 85 Wing.

19 - 23 Apr 1948: Course?

1 Dec 1948: AOC, No 85 Group.

18 Oct 1949: No 1 Personnel Holding Unit, Pending Retirement

During his career, he was mentioned in dispatches five times and was awarded an immediate OBE for gallantry. He represented the RAF at Rugby, Cricket and Athletics.

Citation for the award of the OBE

"Group Captain Cyril Douglas ADAMS, Royal Air Force.

One night in November 1941, an aircraft, fully laden with petrol, bombs and several thousand rounds of ammunition, crashed shortly after taking off and came to rest in an orchard, where it burst into flames. Long grass in the vicinity became ignited from burning petrol and some trees caught fire. Group Captain Adams, who was in his car on the aerodrome at the time, immediately drove to the scene and was the first to arrive there. With complete disregard of his personal safety he entered the aircraft and searched for survivors. While so doing, ammunition was exploding in profusion and Group Captain Adams was well aware of the presence of a number of heavy bombs under the floor on which he stood. Despite the growing intensity of the heat and the imminent danger from the bombs, he extricated and took to a place of safety an airman who was seriously injured and then extinguished the flames on the airman's clothing. Group Captain Adams then covered the casualty with his own overcoat, returned to the aircraft and, finding no other survivors, successfully removed the body of a dead airman. By his gallant action, this officer undoubtedly saved the life of the injured airman."

(London Gazette – 31 March 1942)

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