Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


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Air Vice Marshal G Harcourt-Smith (09212)


Gilbert Harcourt-SmithGilbert                          b: 7 May 1901                    r: 1 Nov 1955                    d: 16 Dec 1968

CB - 1 Jan 1946, CBE - 1 Jan 1941, MVO - 23 Jul 1937, MiD - 2 Jun 1943, MiD - 14 Jan 1944.

Plt Off: 15 Jan 1921, Fg Off: 15 Jul 1922, Flt Lt: 1 Jan 1928, Sqn Ldr: 1 Apr 1936, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1939, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Jun 1941, Act A/Cdre: 12 Jan 1942, 12 Jul 1942, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Dec 1943, Act AVM: 20 Oct 1944 - 1 Mar 1946, 1 Dec 1944, A/Cdre (WS): 20 Oct 1945, A/Cdre: 1 Oct 1946, AVM: 1 Jan 1949.

Gilbert Harcourt-Smith

by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, March 1950
NPG x168105

© National Portrait Gallery, London

15 Jan 1921:           U/T Pilot, No 2 FTS

13 Dec 1922:         Pilot, No 70 Sqn.

18 Sep 1925:          Pilot, Night Flying Unit

 1 Jan 1926:            Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flying Officer

18 May 1928:         Pilot, No 25 Sqn.

24 Sep 1929:          Attended Flying Boat Pilots' Course

17 Jan 1931:           Pilot, No 205 Sqn (arrived 18 Feb 1931)

26 Feb 1933:          Embarked on HT Neuralia on posting to Home Establishment

26 Feb 1933:          Supernumerary, RAF Depot.

13 Apr 1933:          Supernumerary, HQ ADGB (Admin duties at RAF Display Training Camp)

10 Sep 1933:          Test Pilot, M.A.E.E.

21 Jan 1935:           Attended RAF Staff College.

 1 May 1936:          Air Staff, HQ Fighting Area.

14 Jul 1936:            Air Staff, HQ No 11 (Fighter) Group.

30 Jan 1939:           Supernumerary, HQ No 6 (Auxiliary) Group.

13 Feb 1939:          Air Staff, AI 3(c), Deputy Directorate of Intelligence

13 Feb 1939:          Air Staff, Deputy Directorate of Intelligence (3)

11 Nov 1939:         Group Captain - Operations, HQ No 11 (Fighter) Group.

27 Dec 1940:          Group Captain - Operations?, HQ Fighter Command.

12 Jan 1942:           SASO, HQ No 11 (Fighter) Group.

11 May 1943:         SASO, AHQ Malta.

xx xxx 1943:           SASO, Desert Air Force.

24 Feb 1944:          AOC, No 242 Group. (Greece)

20 Oct 1944:          SASO, HQ ACSEA.

27 Nov 1944 - 1 Mar 1946:            Deputy Air C in C, ACSEA.

 1 Mar 1946:          Director of Administrative Plans.

xx xxx 1946:           Director of Organisation.

17 Nov 1948:         AOC, No 12 (Fighter) Group.

 9 Jul 1951:             UK Services Liaison Staff, Australia.

xx Oct 1953:           Commandant, School of Land/Air Warfare.

Originally called Gilbert H Smith.

No 242 Group was allocated to the invasion of Greece and he was therefore in command of the air forces involved in this operation, after which he moved to the Far East, where he was eventually united with his old chief from 11 Group and Malta, Keith Park.

This page was last updated on 13/07/21

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