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OBE
- 7 Jan 1918, AFC - 1 Jan 1919, CdeG(F) - 17 May 1918.
For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here
(RFC): - 2 Lt (P): 25 Jan 1913,
(RNR/RNAS):
- Sub-Lt: 4
Oct 1913, Act Flt
Lt (T): 3
Aug 1914, Flt
Lt: 28 Nov 1914 [3 Aug 1914], Flt
Cdr: 28 Jun 1915, Act Sqn Cdr:
30 Jun 1916, Sqn Cdr: 31 Dec 1916, Wg Cdr:
31 Dec 1917.
(RAF):
- (T) Lt Col [Maj]: 1
Apr 1918, Wg Cdr: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr
1918], Gp Capt:
1 Jul 1928, Act
A/ Cdre: 3 Sep 1939?, A/Cdre: Retained.
RAFO (Class CC): A/Cdre: xx xxx xxxx
25 Jan 1913: Flying Officer, RFC Special Reserve.
23 Apr 1913: Attended Central Flying School
4 Oct 1913: Officer RNR, attached RFC (Naval Wing)
3 Aug 1914: Test Pilot, Isle of Grain Air Station
xx Sep 1914: Pilot, HMS Hermes
xx Dec 1914: Test Pilot, Isle of Grain Air Station
xx Mar 1915: Special Duty, U.S.A.
13 Sep 1915: Pilot, Hendon Air Station
xx
Aug 1916: Officer Commanding, Design Flight RNAS.
xx
xxx xxxx:
Officer Commanding, Experimental Depot, Isle of Grain.
6
Oct 1918: Commandant, M.A.E.E.
1 Aug 1919: Awarded Permanent Commission as a Lieutenant Colonel
14
Nov 1921: Officer Commanding, RAF Base,
Gosport.
16
Apr 1923: Air Staff, HQ No 1 Group
1
Sep 1923: Supernumerary, HQ Coastal Area (awaiting duty aboard HMS Furious)
8
May 1925: OC Flying, HMS Furious.
7
Sep 1926: Attended RN Staff College, Camberley.
26
Oct 1927:
3
Jan 1928:
Officer Commanding, No 10 Sqn.
8
Oct 1928:
Officer Commanding, No 203 Sqn.
19 Feb - 13 Apr 1929: Placed on half-pay list, scale A.
13
Apr 1929: Attended Senior Officer's Technical Course, Portsmouth.
4
Jul 1929:
Officer Commanding, Reception Depot.
26
Jul 1931:
3 Aug 1931: Placed on half pay list, scale A
14
Nov 1932 - 3 Sep 1939:
Retired List.
xx xxx 1938: Commandant, Southampton District, RAFVR
3 Sep 1939: Relinquished his commission (A/Cdre) in Class CC of the RAFO.
3 Sep 1939: AOC, No 33 (Balloon Barrage) Group.
1 Mar 1940: AOC, No 34 (Balloon Barrage) Group.
1 Aug 1941: Reverted to Retired List
An Australian born in North Carlton, Victoria, by 1910 he was the first Australian to hold a pilot's licence and was one of the first three flying instructors at the Bristol School of Aviation at Larkhill and from June 1911, having gained his RAeC Certificate No 94 on 13 June, until 1913 he was Chief Test Pilot for the Bristol and Colonial Aircraft Company. He originally joined the Special Reserve of the RFC (Military) Wing, but in October 1913 he resigned his RFC commission and joined the RNR, immediately being attached to the RFC (Naval Wing). Called up in 1914, he was soon developing his own ideas, one of which was the launching of seaplanes from railway flat wagons, using the aircraft's engine to reach flying speed. Testing the idea himself he rated the experience as 'great fun'. On 7 June 1915, he transferred to the RNAS.
Flying
an impressed Albatros BII on 7 February 1915 he suffered an engine failure on
take off and ran into a dyke, causing the aircraft to overturn and slightly
injuring him. In 1917 he was a member of the sub-committee which worked with Armstrong
Whitworth looking into the design of arresting gear for aircraft carriers.
Also in 1917, he supervised the trials in catapulting aircraft from ships.
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E I Bussell 