Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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.
(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
A S Woodgate