Sir Gareth Thomas Butler Clayton
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 19 March 1962
NPG x166588
Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
Gareth Thomas Butler b: 13 Nov 1914 r: 10 Jun 1972 d: 5 Feb 1992
KCB
– 1 Jan 1970 (CB - 1
Jan 1962), DFC
– 7 May 1940, Bar – 13
Oct 1944, MiD - 1 Jan 1943, CBD (SBK)
– 15 Mar 1946.
For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here
Act
Plt Off (P):
6 Jan/9 Mar 1936, Plt Off: 6 Jan
1937,
Act Fg Off: 20 May 1938,
Fg Off: 6 Jul 1938, Act
Flt Lt: 2 Mar – 2 Aug 1939,
Act
Flt Lt: xx Aug 1939
- 5 Jul 1940, Flt
Lt: 6 Jul 1940,
Act Sqn Ldr: xx Jun 1940- 31 Jan 1941, 27 Jul 1941,
(T) Sqn Ldr: 1 Sep 1941, (T)
Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1943, Sqn Ldr: 26 Mar 1946 [1 Jun 1944], Wg Cdr: 1 Jul
1947, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1954, A/Cdre:
1 Jul 1959, AVM: 1 Jan 1962, Act AM:
15 Mar 1969, AM: 1 Jul 1969.
Sir Gareth Thomas Butler Clayton
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 19 March 1962
NPG x166588
6
Jan/9 Mar 1936 Granted a Short Service Commission
xx xxx xxxx: U/T Pilot
11 Oct 1936: Pilot, No 83 Sqn.
19 Oct 1936: Pilot, No 107 Sqn.
18
Apr 1937:
Attended Navigation Course, Imperial School of Air Navigation
16
Jul 1937:
Navigation Officer, No 107 Sqn (Harwell)
21 Nov 1938: Officer Commanding, 'B' Flight, No 107 Sqn
2 Aug 1939: Pilot, No 107 Sqn
xx Jun 1940: Chief Ground Instructor, No 17 OTU
31 Jan 1941: Flight Commander, No 25 Sqn.
27 Jul 1941: Controller, RAF Wittering
6
Jan 1942:
Transferred to RAFO and
re-employed
11 Nov 1942: Attended, No 30 OTU, RAF Hixon
10 May 1943: Attended, No 1656 HCU, RAF Lindholme
14
Jun 1943:
Flight Commander, No 100 Sqn
xx Jul 1943: Officer Commanding, Aircrew Pool, RAF Hemswell
xx Nov 1943: Officer Commanding, No 576 Sqn.
23 Jun 1944: Deputy OC, RAF Faldingworth.
21 Jul 1944: Air Staff, HQ No 1 Group
xx xxx 1944: Attended RAF Staff College.
xx Feb 1945: Staff Officer, Future Operational Plans Staff, Cabinet Offices
xx xxx 1945: Directing Staff, Chinese Air Force Staff College
26 Mar
1946: Appointed to a
Permanent Commission in the rank of Squadron Leader
(retaining rank current at the time)
xx
Mar 1946:
Air Attaché, Lisbon.
xx
Nov 1948: Wing
Commander (Flying), RAF Upwood.
5
Apr 1951:
Air Staff - Plans, HQ Bomber Command.
29
Jun 1953
14
Apr 1954:
Officer Commanding, RAF Cottesmore.
xx Oct 1955: Officer Commanding, RAF Honington.
xx
xxx 1956:
20
Dec 1959: Director of Operations - Air Transport &
Overseas Theatres.
13
Jan 1962:
AOC, No 11 Group.
15
Jun 1963:
Chief of Staff, 2nd ATAF.
19
Mar 1966:
Director-General of RAF Personnel Services.
15
Mar 1969:
Chief of Staff, HQ Strike Command.
27
Mar 1970: Air Secretary.
Entered the RAF on a Short Service Commission having
attended Rossall School, awarded a permanent commission in 194
“Acting Flight Lieutenant Gareth Thomas Butler CLAYTON (37624).
In April,1940,this officer was the leader of a sub-formation undertaking
bombing operations against Stavanger aerodrome. He pressed home his attack at a
low altitude in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire and attacks by enemy
fighters and succeeded in dropping his bombs among a number of
German aircraft. On the return flight he was attacked by a Messerschmitt
fighter for sixty-five minutes -and it was only by his determination, skill and
courage that he managed to bring his aircraft safely to his base.
Flight Lieutenant Clayton has done magnificent work since the outbreak of
the war and his leadership and courage have always been of the highest order.”
(London Gazette – 7 May 1940)
CLAYTON, Garth Thomas Butler, W/C, DFC (37624, Royal Air Force) - No.576 Squadron - Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 13 October 1944 (No citation in that publication).
" For the past seven months Wing Commander Clayton has commanded a heavy bomber squadron. Under his leadership the squadron has acquired a high degree of skill and keenness. He has flown on many difficult and hazardous operations, operating against the enemy in light bombers and night fighters as well as in heavy bombers. The success achieved by this officer is proved by the fine work completed by his squadron during the past months."
( Source - Flight, 16 November 1944 and Air Ministry Bulletin 15918)
This page was last updated on 22/02/23
R
H Clark-Hall