William Alfred Opie
by Elliott & Fry
bromide print, 1953
NPG x90796
Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
William Alfred b: 4 Dec 1901 r: 1 Jun 1959 d: 14 Oct 1977
CB – 9 Jun 1955, CBE – 1 Jan 1951, MiD – 11 Jul 1940, MiD – 1 Jan 1941, MIMechE, FRAeS
(RAF): - Plt Off: 20 Dec 1922, Fg Off: 20 Jun 1924, Flt Lt: 12 Dec 1928, Sqn Ldr: 1 Dec 1936, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1940, Wg Cdr: 14 Apr 1942 [1 Jan 1940], (T) Gp Capt: 1 Jun 1942, Act A/Cdre: 8 Sep 1944, Gp Capt (WS): 8 Mar 1945, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1946, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1946, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1947, Act AVM: 16 Jan 1953, AVM: 1 Jul 1955.
William Alfred Opie
by Elliott & Fry
bromide print, 1953
NPG x90796
2 Feb 1921: Flight Cadet, ‘B’ Sqn, RAF College, Cranwell
20 Dec 1922: Appointed to a Permanent Commission.
20 Dec 1922: Pilot, No 2 Sqn.
xx xxx xxxx: Supernumerary?
10 May 1925: Pilot, No 31 Sqn.
xx xxx xxxx: Supernumerary?
18 Apr 1929: Attended Officers Engineering Course, Home Aircraft Depot.
4 Aug 1931: Engineering Officer, No 1 School of Technical Training (Apprentices)
19 Mar 1934: Flight Commander?, No 13 Sqn.
xx xxx xxxx: Supernumerary?
14 Mar 1935: Flight Commander, No 5 Sqn.
31 May 1935: Admitted to Hospital following the Quetta Earthquake
20 Jul 1935: Invalided to Home Establishment
21 Sep 1935: Staff Officer, Deputy Directorate of Repair and Maintenance.
19 Jan 1937: Attended RAF Staff College.
1 Jan 1938: Officer Commanding (Designate), No 2 Sqn.
21 Jan 1938: Officer Commanding, No 2 Sqn.
|
Squadron Leader 'Bill' Opie whilst commanding No 2 Squadron |
6 May 1939: Officer Commanding, No 18 Sqn
24 Apr 1940: Transferred to the Technical Branch
20 May 1940:
Staff Officer,
14 Jun 1940: Wing Commander - Engineering, HQ No 22 (Army Co-operation) Group.
24 Jun 1940: Wing Commander - Training, HQ No 22 (Army Co-operation) Group.
1 Sep 1940: Engineer Staff Officer, HQ Bomber Command
1 Jun 1941: Officer Commanding, No 3 (Maintenance) Wing, No 10 OTU
22 Jul 1941: Staff Officer, Ministry of Aircraft Production
xx xxx 1941: Deputy Director of Repair and Maintenance (Aircraft)
8 Sep 1944: Director of Servicing and Maintenance.
xx xxx 1947: Officer Commanding, RAF St Athan
16 Dec 1948: Senior Technical Staff Officer, HQ Far East Air Force
xx May 1951: Officer Commanding, RAF Maintenance Base, Seletar
16 Jan 1953: Assistant Controller of Aircraft, Ministry of Supply
xx xxx 1956: Principal Director, Research and Development (Aircraft), Ministry of Supply
10 Sep 1956: AOC, No 41 Group
He was the last OC of No 2 Squadron as a biplane equipped unit, during his tenure the squadron converted from the Audax to the Hector and then the Lysander.
This page was last updated on 05/04/22