Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


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Air Chief Marshal Sir John Steel


Sir John Miles SteelJohn Miles                    b: 11 Sep 1877              r: 12 Sep 1937                        d: 2 Dec 1965

GCB - 11 May 1937 (KCB - 1 Jan 1935, CB - 3 Jun 1922), KBE - 3 Jul 1926 [5 Jun 1926] (CBE - 1 Jan 1919), CMG - 3 Jun 1919, MiD - 10 Sep 1901, MiD - 15 Sep 1916 (2), SS2S - 5 Jun 1917.

For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here

(RN): - Mid'n: 15 Aug 1894, Sub Lt: 15 Feb 1898, Lt: 30 Jun 1900, Cdr: 30 Jun 1912, Capt: 31 Dec 1916.

(RAF): -  (T) Brig-Gen [Lt Col]: 1 Apr 1918, Col: 1 Apr 1918, Act Brig-Gen: 1 May 1919, Gp Capt: 1 Aug 1919,  A/Cdre: 5 Aug 1919,  AVM: 1 Jan 1925, AM: 1 Jan 1932,  ACM: 1 Jul 1936, AVM: 28 Aug 1939.

Sir John Miles Steel

by Walter Stoneman
negative, April 1943
NPG x165119

© National Portrait Gallery, London

15 Jan 1892:   Attended HMS Britannia

14 Feb 1894:   Naval Cadet/Midshipman, HMS Centurion

31 Jul 1897:       Midshipman, HMS Northampton for HMS Calliope

19 Aug 1897:     HMS Champion

13 Dec 1898:     HMS Flying Fish

20 Apr 1899:     HMS Forte for Royal Naval Brigade (Relief of Ladysmith)

30 Jun 1900:     HMS Forte (Temporary)

13 Nov 1900:    HMS Forte

xx xxx 1902:     HMS Hawke for ?

23 Jun 1902:     HMS Excellent for HMS Hero (Temporary for review)

 1 Jul 1902:       HMS St George (Temporary)

 8 Sep 1902:      HMS Royal Sovereign

 1 Jan 1903:      HMS Isis

26 Jun 1907:     HMS Cumberland as Lieutenant PT School.

 7 Sep 1909:      HMS Excellent for short course in Gunnery.

 4 Jan 1910:      1st Lieutenant, HMS Minataur

11 Sep 1911:     1st Lieutenant and for PT, HMS Minataur

10 Sep 1912:     1st Lieutenant, HMS Agamemnon

 1 Feb 1914:   2 i/c, HMS Conqueror. (Battle of Jutland)

 1 Feb 1917:    Officer Commanding, RNAS Eastchurch.

xx xxx 1918:    Officer Commanding, No 58 Wing - Eastchurch.

 1 Apr 1918:     GOC, No 8 Group.

27 Nov 1918?: Officer Commanding, No 29 Group.

xx xxx 1919:     Director of Air Division, Admiralty.

 1 Aug 1919:    Awarded Permanent Commission as a Colonel

8 Sep 1919:     Director of Operations and Intelligence.

22 Jan 1920:    Removed from the Navy Lists on being awarded Permanent Commission in RAF

12 Apr 1926:   AOC, Wessex Bombing Area.

 6 Feb 1931:    AOC, RAF India.

21 - 31 Jul 1935:    Placed on half pay list, scale A.

 1 Aug 1935:    AOC in C, Air Defence of Great Britain.

14 Jul 1936:     AOC in C, Bomber Command.

12 Sep 1937 - 27 Aug 1939:    Retired List

28 Aug 1939     AOC, Reserve Command.

27 May 1940:    Reverted to Retired List.

15 Apr 1941:    Controller-General of Economy, Air Ministry

26 Sep 1945:    Reverted to Retired List

Educated at Stubbington House before entering HMS Britannia, he did not learn to fly until March 1918, at the age of 40, gaining his RAeC Certificate, No 5731 on 16 March, having commanded Eastchurch for a year previously.  On 28 January 1936 he was a mourner at the funeral of HM King George V.  Recalled to service, voluntarily assuming the rank of AVM from 28 August 1939 to 27 May 1940 and then again from 15 April 1941 to 26 September 1945, although he remained listed as Air Chief Marshal in the Air Force Lists. 

Citation for the award of Companion of the Order of the Bath

"STEEL, John Miles, A/C, CMG, CBE

In recognition of distinguished service as Director of Operations and Intelligence, Air Ministry."

 (Source – Air 30/49)

Citation for the award of Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire

"STEEL, John Miles, A/V/M, CB, CMG, CBE

In recognition of distinguished service as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff and as a Member of the Air Council."

(Source – Air 30/66)

This page was last updated on 15/07/23©

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