Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Vice Marshal T A Langford-Sainsbury (07201)

Thomas Audley            b: 23 Nov 1897            r: 15 May 1949                    d: 21 Jun 1972

CB - 1945, OBE - 11 Jul 1940, DFC- 10 Jun 1924, AFC - 1 Jan 1919, Bar – 1 Jan 1921, Bar - 11 May 1937, MiD - 2 Jun 1943

(Army):- (T) 2 Lt (P): 26 Sep 1916, (T) 2 Lt: 9 Jun 1917, (T) Lt: 26 Mar 1918.

(RAF):- Lt: 1 Apr 1918, Fg Off: 1 Aug 1919, Flt Lt: 30 Jun 1923, Sqn Ldr: 1 Jun 1932, Wg Cdr: 1 Apr 1937, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Mar 1940, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jun 1942, Act AVM: 16 Nov 1942, Gp Capt: 20 Nov 1942 [1 Oct 1941], A/Cdre (WS): 16 Nov 1943, (T) AVM: 1 Jun 1944 - 47, A/Cdre: 1 Dec 1944, Act AVM: 1 Nov 1947, AVM: Retained.

xx xxx xxxx:            Cadet, RFC.

26 Sep 1916:          U/T Pilot, RFC.

 8 May 1917:          Flying Officer, RFC.

13 Jun 1917:           Embarked for France

14 Jun 1917:           Pilot, No 41 Sqn RFC.

28 Nov 1918:         Returned to Home Establishment

 9 Sep 1919:           Test Pilot, Experimental Section, RAE.

12 Sep 1919:          Granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flying Officer.

 7 Mar 1922:          Pilot, No 30 Sqn.

 1 Apr 1924:           Flight Commander, No 208 Sqn.

25 May 1926:         'B' Flight Commander, No 15 Sqn.

15 Sep 1927:           Flight Commander, Combined 'B' & 'C' Flight, No 15 Sqn.

 8 Mar - 22 Apr 1930:    Officer Commanding (Temporary), No 15 Sqn.

30 - 27 May 1932:          Attached to HM S Norfolk

23 Sep 1932:          Supernumerary, No 36 Sqn. (arrived 23 Oct 1932)

 8 Nov 1932:          Officer Commanding, No 36 Sqn. (Vildebeest)

25 Oct 1935:          Embarked for return to the UK on posting to Home Establishment

27 Jan 1936:           Officer Commanding, No 48 Sqn. (Anson I)

19 Sep 1938:          Air Staff - Operations, HQ No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.

 1 Dec 1939:          'C' Watch Commander, HQ No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.

27 May 1940:         Attached, RAF Detling.

28 May 1940:         Attached as Officer i/c all Flying Units, RAF Detling.

 5 Jun 1940:            Officer Commanding, RAF Thorney Island

15 Dec 1941:          Deputy SASO, HQ Coastal Command.

16 Nov 1942:         AOC, No 15 (General Reconnaissance) Group.

 5 Mar 1943:          AOC, No 201 (Naval Co-operation) Group.

 1 Feb 1944:           AOC, AHQ Eastern Mediterranean.

xx Nov 1944:         AOC AHQ Egypt.

25 May 1945:        SASO, HQ Bomber Command.

 7 Jul 1947:            AOA, HQ British Air Forces of Occupation.

Originally, a member of the Territorial Army.  He was married to Maud Hamilton Martimer at St Mary Abbot's, Kensington on 10 July 1918.He was awarded his DFC for operations in Kurdistan between 15 February and 19 June 1923.

This page was last updated on 25/12/20

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