Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


Home Page

Main Menu

Quick Menu

Members' Area

What New?

About this site

Reunions

Help Needed?

Glossary

Bibliography

Sign Guest Book

View Guest Book

Link to Amazon

Online Store

Contact Me


Air Commodore J B Coward (39412)


James Baird                  b: 18 May 1915                       r: 8 Sep 1969        d: 25 Jul 2012

AFC - 1 Jan 1954.

Act Plt Off: 28 Jan 1937, Plt Off: 16 Nov 1937, Fg Off: 16 Jun 1939, Act Flt Lt: 4 Nov 1939, Flt Lt (WS): 3 Sep 1940, (T) Sqn Ldr: 1 Dec 1941, Sqn Ldr: 1 Aug 1947, Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1952, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1958, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1962.

 6 Feb 1937:                U/T Pilot, No 2 Flying Training School

 4 Sep 1937:                Pilot, No 19 Sqn. (Gauntlet/Spitfire I)

11 Nov 1939:              Flight Commander, No 266 Sqn

27 Jun 1940:                Flight Commander, No 19 Sqn

31 Aug 1940:               Hospitalisation and convalescence

xx Jan 1941:                Personal Staff, Prime Minister

xx Jan 1942:                Instructor, No ? OTU

 6 Oct 1942:                Transferred to the Reserve and recalled for Air Force Service.

xx xxx xxxx:                 Officer Commanding, No 1 Aircraft Delivery Flight.

25 Sep 1944:               Staff Officer, Directorate of Operational Training

 5 Oct 1947:                Air Attaché, Oslo

xx xxx xxxx:                 Staff, RAF College Cranwell

xx xxx xxxx:                 Officer Commanding, No ? Advanced Flying Training School

xx xxx 1957:                Officer Commanding, RAF Boulmer

 3 Mar 1960:               Senior Air Liaison Officer, British Defence Liaison Staff, Australia.

14 Sep 1962:               AOC, Air Cadets/Commandant, Air Training Corps.

16 Jun 1966:                Air Attaché, Pretoria/Senior Air Liaison Officer, British Defence Liaison Staff, South Africa.

On 31 August 1940 whilst leading a section of No 19 Sqn, he was hit by enemy fire, which almost severed his left foot.  Baling out he landed heavily and was soon on his way to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge where his leg had to be amputated.  When he retired from the RAF and moved with his wife to Australia.

This page was last updated on 31/07/21 using FrontPage 2003©

Return to C L Courtney C L Courtney                                        [Top of Page]                                C R Cox Forward to C R Cox