Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


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Air Vice Marshal L W Cannon (16166)


Leslie William               b: 9 Apr 1904                     r: 4 Nov 1958                    d: 27 Jan 1986

CB - 1 Jan 1952, CBE - 14 Jun 1945, MiD - 18 Feb 1938, MiD - 24 Sep 1941, MiD – 1 Jan 1945, MiD – 1 Jan 1946, SS - 14 Jun 1946.

For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here

Plt Off: 30 Jul 1925, Fg Off: 30 Jan 1927, Flt Lt: 14 May 1930, Sqn Ldr: xx xxx xxxx, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Mar 1940, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Mar 1942, Wg Cdr: 20 Nov 1942 [1 Jul 1941], Gp Capt (WS): 24 Jun 1945, Act A/Cdre: 24 Dec 1944, Gp Capt: 1 Oct 1946, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1949, Act AVM: 7 May 1951, AVM: 1 Jan 1953.

xx xxx 1920:            Boy Mechanic, No 2 School of Technical Training, RAF Cranwell.

12 Sep 1923:           Flight Cadet, 'A' Sqn, RAF College. (Flt Cdt Cpl – Athletics, Soccer)

30 Jul 1925:            Pilot, No 2 Sqn. (Bristol  F2B)

27 Jan 1927:           Pilot, No 440 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight. (Fairey IIID/F)

 1 Jun 1927:            Pilot, No 2 Sqn. (Bristol F2B)

28 Jun 1927:           Adjutant, No 2 Sqn

 6 Sep 1927:          Embarked on SS Niwana for return to UK

xx Oct 1927:         Disembarked in London

11 Feb 1929:          Attended Flying Instructors' Course, CFS

 1 May 1929:          QFI, RAF College - Cranwell.

 1 Aug 1929:           Attended Aircraft Engineering Course, Home Aircraft Depot.

 4 Aug 1931:           Engineering Officer, RAF MT Depot.

17 Mar 1932:          Engineering Officer, RAF College - Cranwell.

12 Oct 1933:           Engineering Officer, HQ RAF India.

 8 Nov 1935:           Flight Commander, No 60 Sqn. (Wapiti)

xx Apr 1937:           Officer Commanding, No 5 Sqn. (Wapiti)

23 Feb 1938:           Admin/Personnel Staff, HQ Training Command.

23 Jan 1939:            Attended RAF Staff College.

25 Aug 1939:           Staff, Directorate of Operations (Home).

27 May 1940:          Engineering Staff Officer, HQ Bomber Command.

xx Mar 1941:          Chief Maintenance Officer, No 21 OTU

15 Dec 1941:          Directing Staff, RAF Staff College.

xx xxx 1942:            Officer Commanding, RAF Watton.

19 Mar 1943:          Deputy SASO, HQ No 83 (Composite) Group. 

xx xxx 1943:            Officer Commanding, RAF Lasham

 3 Nov 1943:           Attached, RAF Dunsfold

10 Nov 1943:          Officer Commanding, RAF Lasham and RAF Dunsfold

10 Nov 1943:          Officer Commanding, No 138 Wing, RAF Lasham and RAF Dunsfold

17 Nov 1943:          Officer Commanding, No 138 Wing, RAF Lasham and No 139 Wing, RAF Dunsfold

29 Nov 1943:          Leave

 8 Dec 1943:           SOA, HQ No 2 Group

24 Dec 1944:          AOA, HQ No 2 Group.

18 Mar 1946:          AOC, No 2 Group

xx May 1946:          AOC, No 85 Group.

xx Jan 1947:            Attended Imperial Defence College.

xx xxx 1948:            Assistant Commandant, RAF Staff College, Andover.

xx xxx xxxx:             Commandant, RAF Staff College, Andover.

30 Nov 1949:          Director of Organisation (Establishments)

 7 May 1951:           C in C, Royal Pakistan Air Force.

12 Dec 1955:           Director-General of Organisation.

He continued to fly on operations as both OC, Watton and AOA, 2 Group, in the latter capacity with both the RAF and USAAF, for which he was awarded the US Silver Star.  He represented the RAF in athletics, boxing and pistol shooting.  On retirement he joined the Central Records Office for a year before returning to the Indian sub-continent as Senior Representative in India for Rolls Royce Ltd.

This page was last updated on 22/04/22

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