Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

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Air Marshal J J Breen

John Joseph                  b: 8 Mar 1896                 r: 2 May 1946                        d:  9 May 1964

CB - 11 Jun 1942, OBE - 3 Jun 1935, MiD - 30 May 1918, MiD - 11 Jul 1919, MiD - 12 Jan 1920.

(Army): - 2 Lt:  11 Aug 1915, Lt: 5 Oct 1916, (T) Capt: 16 Dec 1916.

(RAF): - Capt: 1 Apr 1918, Flt Lt: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918], Sqn Ldr: 1 Jan 1925, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1933, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1937, (T) A/Cdre: 20 Feb 1940, (T) AVM: 1 Dec 1941, A/Cdre: 14 Apr 1942, [20 Feb 1940], AVM: 1 Jun 1943, Act AM (pd): 1 Dec 1944 - 7 Mar 1946, Act AM (unpd): 7 Mar 1946 - 2 May 1946, AM: Retained,.

xx xxx xxxx:               Attended RMC Sandhurst.

11 Aug 1915:               Officer, Royal Irish Regiment.

23 Feb 1916:               Flying Officer, RFC.

16 Dec 1916:               Adjutant, RFC. (Western Front/Italy)

14 Sep 1918:               Staff Officer 3rd Class, HQ RAF Flanders and France.

xx xxx xxxx:                 Staff Officer, HQ 10 Brigade.

 1 Aug 1919:           Resigned his commission in the Royal Irish Regiment on appointment to a Permanent Commission in the RAF.

 1 Aug 1919:               Awarded Permanent Commission as a Captain

28 May 1920:              Adjutant, MT Repair Depot.

 8 Nov 1922:               Staff, Deputy Directorate of Organisation.

10 May 1926:              Attended RAF Staff College.

30 Jul 1927:                 Supernumerary (U/T Pilot), No 24 Sqn.

xx xxx xxxx:                 Officer Commanding, No 55 Sqn.

 9 Apr 1928:                Officer, Armoured Car Wing, Iraq. (OC, Armoured Car Company/Section?)

22 Oct 1928:               Officer Commanding, No 84 Sqn. (DH9A, Wapiti – Shaibah)

27 Oct 1929:               Officer Commanding, No 33 Sqn. (Hart – Eastchurch/Bicester)

 1 Jan 1931:                 Supernumerary, RAF Depot.

19 Jan 1931:                Attended Imperial Defence College.

 2 Jan 1932:                 Air Staff, HQ Wessex Bombing Area.

 1 Oct 1933:                Air Staff, HQ Western Area.

20-21 Feb 1935:          Placed on half pay list, scale A.

22 Feb 1935:               Attached for Air Staff duties, HQ, Sudan Defence Force 

27 Nov 1937:              SASO, HQ No 4 (Bomber) Group.

27 Jun 1940:                AOC, No 1 Group.  

 1 Dec 1940:                Director of Postings

xx xxx 1942:                Director-General of Postings

 1 Dec 1944:                Head of Post-War Planning Executive.

He was the son of Inspector-General T J Breen RN, Inspector-General of Hospitals and Fleets.  He gained Royal Aero Club Certificate No 2103 on 18 November 1915.