Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


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Air Commodore F Woolley


 Frank                    b: 8 May 1899                        r: 6 Aug 1954                        d: 23 Jun 1981

 CB - 1 Jan 1946, OBE - 3 Jun 1931, DFC - 3 Jun 1919, MiD - 2 Jun 1943, LoM (O) - 27 Nov 1945.

For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here

 (Army):- (T) 2 Lt (P): 8 Nov 1918.

(RAF):- Lt: 1 Apr 1918, Fg Off: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918], Fg Off: 15 Jun 1920 [1 Apr 1918], Flt Lt: 1 Jan 1928, Sqn Ldr: 1 Jun 1936, Wg Cdr: 1 Apr 1939, Act Gp Capt: 2 Jul 1941, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Sep 1941, Act A/Cdre: 17 Feb 1943, Gp Capt (WS): 17 Aug 1943, Gp Capt: 1 Oct 1946, A/Cdre: Retained.

xx Jun 1917:                 Soldier, 7th Training Reserve Battalion (Rugeley, Staffordshire)

13 Aug 1917:               Cadet, No 5 School of Aeronautics RFC, Denham.

 8 Nov 1917:                Appointed to a Commission in the rank of 2nd Lieutenant

17 Nov 1917:               U/T Pilot, Central Flying School

xx Apr 1918:                Instructor

xx May 1918:               Attended School of Aerial Gunnery (Turnberrry)

 6 Jul 1918:                  Embarked for France

 6 Jul 1918:                  Attached, No 1 Aeroplane Supply Depot

14 Jul 1918:                 Pilot/Adjutant, No 79 Sqn (Dolphin)

15 Jul 1919:                 Pilot, No 43 Sqn

25 Jul 1919:                 Posted to No 1 Reception Section, 91st Wing

26 Jul 1919:                 Posted to No 1 ASD

25 Aug 1919:               Posted to Reinforcement Park

25 Aug 1919:               Returned to Home Establishment

21 Oct 1919:               Transferred to Unemployed List

15 Jun 1920:                Granted a Short Service Commission.

15 Jun 1920:                Attended School of Naval Co-operation and Aerial Navigation.

 1 Aug 1921:                Staff, M.A.E.E.

14 Jul 1922:                 Supernumerary, RAF Depot

xx xxx xxxx:                 Attended QFI Course, CFS

27 Oct 1922:               Staff, Inland Area/Home Aircraft Depot.

 1 Dec 1923:                Supernumerary (non-effective), RAF Depot.

 6 Dec 1924:                Staff, Home Aircraft Depot.

 1 Jul 1927:                  Granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flying Officer.

19 Aug 1927:               Air Staff - Intelligence, HQ Iraq Command.

xx Oct 1927:                Attended Arabic Course , School of Oriental Studies, London

30 Mar 1928:               Air Staff - Intelligence, HQ Iraq Command.

25 May 1932:              Supernumerary, RAF Depot

10 Jul - 26 Sep 1932:    Placed on half pay list, Scale ?

26 Sep 1932:               Refresher Flying Course, No 24 Sqn.

17 Nov 1932:              Flight Commander, No 100 Sqn.

 2 Aug 1933:                Pilot, Coast Defence Development Unit (Calshot?).

 9 Apr 1936:                Attached HQ RAF Middle East (Intelligence duties).

 9 Oct 1936:                Senior Air Staff Officer, HQ RAF Far East.

 9 Aug 1941:               Officer Commanding, No 223 Group.

17 Sep 1941:              In transit to Ceylon to assume command of No 222 Group, arrived 4 Oct 1941

 6 Oct 1941:               Officer Commanding No 222 Group

13 Mar 1942:             SASO, HQ No 222 Group

26 Jun 1942:               In transit to the UK

xx xxx 1942:               Extended leave in UK

17 Feb 1943:             Air Staff, Mediterranean Air Command

10 Dec 1943:             Air Staff, Mediterranean Allied Air Force.

15 Sep 1945:             Air Staff, HQ RAF Mediterranean and Middle East

xx xxx 1946:              Officer Commanding, RAF Lyneham

xx xxx 1948:              Assistant Director, Joint Intelligence Bureau

Whilst at Henlow in1923 he suffered a fractured skull during a mess party and spent ten months in hospital, eventually making a full recovery.

Citation for the award of Officer of the Order of the British Empire

"WOOLLEY, Frank, F/L, DFC

 This officer has been a Special Service Officer in Iraq since March 1928.  Although occupying the most lonely and isolated post in the whole Command, he has consistently displayed, under extremely trying conditions, a tact, patience and perseverance which are worthy of the highest praise."

(Source - Air 30/89)

This page was last updated on 17/09/23

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