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Air Commodore E J D Townesend


Ernest John Dennis               b: 21 Mar 1896                       r: 27 Nov 1946                        d: 13 Oct 1975

CBE – 1 Jan 1947, PR3 – 12 Jun 1945, BA - 1922, FRAeS.

(Army): - 2 Lt: 7 Jan 1915, Lt: 8 Aug 1916.

(RAF): - Lt: 1 Apr 1918, (T) Capt: 24 Jun 1918, Fg Off: 1 Aug 1919, Flt Lt: 1 Nov 1919, Sqn Ldr: 29 May 1929, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1936, Gp Capt: 1 Apr 1939, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Oct 1944.

xx xxx 1913:               Gentleman Cadet, Royal Military College, Kingston, Canada

 7 Jan 1915:                Officer, Royal Horse/Field Artillery

16 Jan 1916:                Observer, RFC.

15 Nov 1916:               Flying Officer (Observer), RFC

10 Jan 1917:                Flying Officer, RFC.

xx Mar 1917:               Pilot, No 60 Sqn.

 6 Apr 1917:                Prisoner of War

20 Jan 1918:                Repatriated

24 Jun 1918:                Staff Officer 3rd Class, G.7A, Directorate of Training.

xx xxx 1919:                Staff Officer 3rd Class, E.5, Directorate of Equipment.

1 Aug 1919:                 Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Lieutenant (Staff Officer Branch)

30 Sep 1920:               Attended Cambridge University (Jesus College)

 1 Oct 1922:                 Attended London University. (Imperial College of Science)

 1 Aug 1923:                Staff, Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment

18 Nov 1925:               Staff, Aircraft Depot, Iraq.

18 Nov 1926:               Technical Staff Officer, HQ Iraq Command.

xx xxx xxxx:                  Supernumerary?

25 Mar 1928:               Engineering Officer, RAF Upper Heyford.

23 Feb 1932:               Engineering Officer, HQ Wessex Bombing Area.

15 Nov 1932:               Staff Officer, Deputy Directorate of Repair and Maintenance.

27 Apr 1935:               Senior Engineering Officer, HQ Western Area.

xx xxx xxxx:                  Supernumerary?

18 Oct 1935:                Engineering Officer, Aircraft Depot, Iraq

23 Oct 1937:                Officer Commanding, No 3 School of Technical Training (Men).

10 Jul 1939:                 Officer Commanding (Temporary), No 41 Group.

28 Jul 1939:                 Senior Administrative Staff Officer, No 41 Group.

24 Apr 1940:               Transferred to the Technical Branch.

19 Oct 1940:                Senior Maintenance Staff Officer, HQ No 41 Group.

xx xxx 1943:                AOC, RAF Henlow

xx xxx 1946:                Retired

The son of an engineer from British Columbia who worked for the East Bengal State Railway, he attended the Royal Grammar School, Lancaster from 1906 before moving to Dulwich College on 15 September 1909.  He left Dulwich in July 1911 and entered University School, Victoria, British Columbia in 1912 before attending the Royal Military College in Kingston from 1913 to 1914.

After retiring from the RAF he appears to have worked at the Ministry of Supply in London. He died in the Bournemouth area.

This page was last updated on 16/11/22

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