bromide print, 1948
NPG x84886
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
Air Marshal Stephen Strafford (04229)
(Stephen) Charles b: 21 Nov 1898 r: 9 Jun 1954 d: 18 May 1966
CB - 15 Aug 1944, CBE - 1 Jan 1941, DFC - 1 Jan 1919, MiD - xx xxx 191?, MiD - 11 Jul 1940, MiD - 8 Jun 1944, AVM (B) - 5 Apr 1919, LoH - xx xxx 1944, CdG (P) - xx xxx 1944.
(RNAS):- PFO: xx Jun 1917, (T) Flt Sub-Lt: 7 Oct 1917.
(RAF):- Lt: 1 Apr 1918, Fg Off: 1 Aug 1919, Flt Lt: 1 Jan 1924, Sqn Ldr: 1 Dec 1932, Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1937, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Jun 1940, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jun 1943, Gp Capt: 1 Dec 1943, Act AVM: 15 May 1944, A/Cdre (WS): 1 May 1945, A/Cdre: 1 Oct 1946, AVM: 1 Jul 1948, Act AM: 1 Oct 1952, AM: Retained.
Photo (Far left) - taken from his RAeC Certificate
Photo (left) -
© National Portrait Gallery, London
xx xxx 1916: Attended HMS Worcester
xx Jun 1917: U/T Pilot, Cranwell Central Depot and Training Establishment
xx xxx xxxx: Staff, HQ No 66 Wing.
1 Mar 1919: Flight Commander, No 266 Sqn?
18 May 1919: Admitted to No 32 Stationary Hospital (injured foot whilst proceeding to UK for demob)
1 Aug 1919: Awarded Permanent Commission as a Lieutenant
12 Aug 1919: Invalided to England
2 Dec 1919: Pilot, HMS Pegasus
6 Feb 1922: Supernumerary, RAF Depot
26 Jul 1922: Instructor, Seaplane Training School
19 Apr 1923: Instructor, School of Naval Co-Operation
4 May 1925: Attended RAF Staff College.
15 Apr 1926: Air Staff, Deputy Directorate of Staff Duties.
xx xxx xxxx: Air Staff, Deputy Directorate of Organisation
1 Mar 1930: Flight Commander, No 6 Sqn.
18 Feb 1931: Air Staff, HQ Transjordan and Palestine.
8 Sep 1934: Air Staff, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence
18 Jan 1938: Attended Imperial Defence College.
1 Jan 1939: Directing Staff, RAF Staff College
xx xxx 1939: Air Staff, Directorate of Plans.
xx xxx 1939: Member, No 2 Mission in France.
xx xxx 1939: Officer Commanding, Advanced HQ (North) - British Air Forces in France.
xx xxx 1940: Air Staff - Plans & Operations, Joint Staff, Anti-Invasion HQ - Home Forces.
xx xxx 1940: Plans 1, Director of Plans.
xx xxx 1941: Head British Air Planner, Combined Chiefs of Staff - Washington DC.
xx xxx 1943: Member, Combined Planning Staff, COSSAC.
15 May 1944: Chief of Plans and Operations - SHAEF.
2 Dec 1944: AOA, Middle East Command
23 Jul 1945: AOC, RAF Iraq & Persia.
1 Mar 1946: AOC, AHQ RAF Iraq.
24 Apr 1947: SASO, HQ Bomber Command.
26 Oct 1950: Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment/Inspector of Ground Combat Training.
1 Oct 1952: Inspector-General of the RAF
Stephen Strafford entered the RNAS after attending the
Thames Nautical Training College, HMS Worcester,
This page was last updated on 21/06/22
C G Stowell