Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
Peter Gerald Desmond b: 26 Sep 1917 r: 6 Nov 1972 d: 21 Oct 2009
CB – 8 Jun 1968, OBE – 1 Jan 1952, DFC – 18 Sep 1942, FBIM.
Act Plt Off (P): 12 Jul 1937, Plt Off: 18 May 1938, Fg Off: 18 Feb 1940, Flt Lt (WS): 18 Feb 1941, (T) Sqn Ldr: 1 Mar 1941, Act Wg Cdr: 17 Feb 1943-10 Jan 1944, Sqn Ldr (WS): 17 Aug 1943, Act Wg Cdr: 10 Jul 1944, Sqn Ldr: 1 Sep 1945, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1952, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1960, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1965, Act AVM: 1 Dec 1969, AVM: 1 Jul 1970.
12 Jul 1937: Granted a Short Service Commission.
12 Jul 1937: Initial Officer Training, RAF Depot.
xx xxx 1937: U/T Pilot, No ? FTS.
29 Mar 1938: Pilot, No 216 Sqn.
12 Jul 1941: Transferred to the Reserve and called up for Air Force Service
xx Oct 1941: Flight Commander, No 70 Sqn.
xx May 1942: ?
xx xxx 1942: Supernumerary, No 2 Personnel Despatch Centre
28 Sep 1942: Instructor, No 21 OTU
17 Feb 1943: Deputy CFI, No 21 OTU
1 Apr 1943 Chief Instructor, No 20 OTU. OC, RAF Milltown
10 Jan 1944: Attended operational training course, No 15 OTU
7 Feb 1944: Pending overseas posting, No 5 Personnel Despatch Centre
9 May 1944: Officer Commanding, No 1673 HCU
8 Nov 1944: Officer Commanding, No 358 Sqn. (Liberators)
xx xxx 1945: Officer Commanding, RAF Pegu.
xx xxx 1947: Staff, Deputy Directorate of Accident Prevention.
1947 - 51 ?
xx Jan 1951: Officer Commanding, No 120 Sqn (Lancaster GR3/Shackleton MR1)
xx xxx 1952: Deputy Director, Joint Anti-Submarine School.
xx xxx 1954: Officer Commanding, RAF Idris
12 Mar 1956: Air Staff, Directorate of Policy (Air Staff) (B)
1957 - 59: ?
xx Jan 1959: Directing Staff, Joint Services Staff College.
30 Jun 1960: SASO, RAF Malta.
12 Aug 1963: Officer Commanding, RAF Kinloss.
31 Dec 1964: AOA, HQ RAF Germany.
1968 - 69 ?
6 Jan 1969: Assistant AOA, HQ Strike Command.
1 Dec 1969: AOA, HQ Strike Command.
From 1973 to 1983, he was the Director of the Brain Research Trust. No 358 only carried out one bomber operation on 13 January 1945, after which the unit was redesignated a 'Special Duties' squadron, operating in the role for the remainder of the war. Whilst commanding No 120 Squadron, he was responsible for overseeing the introduction of the Shackleton to RAF service.
This page was last updated on 17/12/19 using FrontPage 2003©
P J Farmer
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