Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


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Air Commodore C S Cadell (05131)


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo courtesy - Ian Cadell

Colin Simson         b: 7 Aug 1905                r: 10 May 1947                d: 29 Oct 1996

CBE - 19 Sep 1944, LoM (O) - 15 Mar 1946, VL (West Lothian) - 19 Jul 1972 - 1988.

For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here

Plt Off: 18 Sep 1925, Fg Off: 18 Mar 1927, Flt Lt: 11 Mar 1931, Sqn Ldr: 1 Feb 1937, (T) Wg Cdr: 1  Mar 1940, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Mar 1942, Wg Cdr: 14 Apr 1942 [1 Jan 1940], Act A/Cdre: 22 Apr 1943, Gp Capt (WS): 17 Oct 1943, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1946, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1946, A/Cdre: Retained.

18 Sep 1926:          U/T Pilot, No 5 FTS.

22 Aug 1927:          Pilot, No 4 Sqn (Farnborough)

11 Jan 1929:           Pilot, No 208 Sqn (Bristol F2B - Heliopolis)

13 Apr 1931:          Attended Electrical and Wireless School

14 Nov 1932:         Attended Course in W/T at Ecole Superieur d'Electricite, Paris.

 6 Nov 1933:          Attended Refresher flying course, CFS

xx xxx 1933:            Flight Commander?, No 2 Sqn (Manston)

 1 Jun 1934:            ADC to Sir Miles Wedderburn Lampson - High Commissioner to Egypt.

 1 Jun 1936:            Officer Commanding, 'D' Flight, No 45 Sqn.

 2 Oct 1936:            Proceeded to UK on posting to Home Establishment

 8 Dec 1936:           Senior Technical Officer, Electrical and Wireless School.

24 Jan 1938:           Attended RAF Staff College.

16 Jan 1939:           Air Staff, FO4, Deputy Directorate of Operations (Overseas)

29 Apr 1940:          Staff, Directorate of Signals.

20 Sep 1940:          Assumed local control of RCM operations, Garston

14 Oct 1940:          Wing Commander - Operations, HQ No 80 Wing.

 7 Mar 1941:          Staff, Deputy Directorate of Intelligence (4).

22 Apr 1942:          Deputy Director of Intelligence (4).

22 Apr 1943:          Command Signals Officer, HQ Middle East Command

30 Nov 1943:         Director of Telecommunications.

xx xxx 1945:           Director of Signals.

 1 Sep 1946:          AOC, No 66 Group, RAF Turnhouse.

During 1940 he was involved in the 'Beetle Scheme', this established a combined services communications network across the country.  Prior to the formation of No 80 Wing he was placed in local control of RCM operations from Fighter Command's Alternative Administration HQ at Garston under the direction of Wg Cdr E B Addison.  On the formation of No 80 Wing, he was transferred to the new unit as Wg Cdr- Operations on 14 July 1940.  As Deputy Director of Intelligence (4), he was responsible for the setting up of the telecommunications intelligence gathering station at Chicksands.

Following retirement from the RAF he was Managing Director of International Aeradio (1947 - 1958), a Director of Carron Company (1958 - 1971) and a Director of the Royal Bank of Scotland (1963 - 1969).  He was Chairman of the Edinburgh Airport Consultative Committee from 1972 - 1982 as well as being a Member of the Queen's Body Guard for Scotland.

Citation for the award of Commander of the Order of the British Empire

"CADELL, Colin Simson, A/A/C (Royal Air Force)

As officer in charge of “Y” Intelligence at the Air Ministry, later as Air Chief Signals Officer, Middle East, and now as Director of Telecommunications, this officer has, by his drive, energy and ability, contributed largely to the success of the Royal Air Force Signals organisation."

(Source - Air 2/9003)

This page was last updated on 24/11/23

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