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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Thomas Robert Brookes b: 14 Sep 1919 r: 3 Oct 1970 d: 24 Feb 2010
CBE - 1 Jan 1964.
Act Plt Off (P): 4 Jun 1938 [4 Apr 1938?], Plt Off: 4 Apr 1939, Fg Off (WS): 3 Sep 1940, Act Flt Lt: xx xxx 1940, Flt Lt (WS): 3 Sep 1941, Act Sqn Ldr: xx xxx 1943, , Act Wg Cdr: 8 May 1943?, (T) Sqn Ldr: 8 Nov 1943 (adjusted to 19 Jul 1944 on 12 Oct 1948), Flt Lt: 19 May 1947, Sqn Ldr: 1 Nov 1947 [1 Aug 1947], Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1953, Act Gp Capt: 19 Nov 1959, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1960, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1966.
4 Apr 1938 Attended No 1 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School
4 Jun 1938: Granted a Short Service Commission.
xx xxx xxxx: U/T Pilot, No ? FTS
14 Jan 1939: Attended School of Army Co-operation.
29 Apr 1939: Pilot, No 4 Sqn
18 Mar 1940: Assistant Adjutant, No 4 Sqn.
6 Sep 1940: 'C' Flight Commander, No 4 Sqn.
2 Dec 1941: No 5 Personnel Despatch Centre, pending posting
xx xxx xxxx: Flight Commander, No 28 Sqn.
10 Nov 1942: Supernumerary, AHQ Bengal whilst attached to to 4 Corps as Air Liaison Officer
xx Mar 1943: Officer Commanding, No 28 Sqn
xx Aug 1943: Officer Commanding, No 171 Wing
16 Nov 1943: Air Staff, Air Command, South-East Asia.
19 May 1947: Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant
29 Apr 1958: Staff Officer, Directorate of Bomber and Reconnaissance Operations
19 Nov 1959: Staff Officer, Directorate of Operations, Bomber and Reconnaissance.
1 Jun 1961: Officer Commanding, RAF Tengah.
20 Jul 1964: Staff Officer, Ministry of Aviation.
2 Oct 1967: SASO/Chief of Staff, HQ Far East Air Force.
Born in Liverpool he became part of the Air Component, BEF when his unit, No 4 Squadron, moved to France in late 1939. Following the destruction of hi aircraft by enemy action he was forced to join the evacuation from Dunkirk, spending five days on the beaches.
In India he converted to the Hurricane and carried out armed reconnaissance sorties against the Japanese as they made their way through Burma, eventually being forced to lead his flight to China, each pilot sitting on a mechanic’s knee. They continued operations from China being escorted by the P-40’ of the American Volunteer Group, ‘The Flying Tigers’.
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