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Air Vice Marshal J Cox (27049)


Air Vice Marshal Joseph CoxJoseph    b: 25 Oct 1904     r: 29 Dec 1958    d: 22 Apr 1986

CB – 13 Jun 1957, OBE – 2 Jan 1950, DFC- 23 Dec 1940.

Plt Off (P): 25 May 1928, Plt Off: 25 May 1929, Fg Off: 25 Nov 1929, Flt Lt: 1 Apr 1934, Sqn Ldr: 1 Dec 1937, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Sep 1940, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Sep 1942, Wg Cdr: 1 Dec 1943, Gp Capt: 1 Oct 1946, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1952, AVM: 1 Jan 1955.

Photo - courtesy Patricia Banks (AVM Cox's daughter)

25 May 1928:        Appointed to a Short Service Commission.

25 May 1928:        Initial Officer Training, RAF Depot

 8 Jun 1928:            U/T Pilot, No 4 FTS.

12 Jun 1929:           Pilot, No 8 Sqn.

13 Dec 1930:          Supernumerary, RAF Depot.

xx Jan 1931:            Attended Instructors' Course, Central Flying School

22 Apr 1931:          QFI, No 2 FTS. (He was detached from Digby to Netheravon in the Summers of 1931 and 1932 to work with Cambridge University Air Sqn)

12 Jan 1933:           QFI, Station Flight, Duxford.

15 Mar 1934:         QFI, Central Flying School.

 1 Jun 1936:            Granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

24 Oct 1936:          Pilot, No 70 Sqn.

 1 Dec 1937:          Flight Commander, 'A' Flight, No 70 Sqn

xx Mar 1938:          Senior Personnel Staff Officer, HQ British Forces in Iraq

xx Jan 1939:           Examiner's Pool/Refresher Sqn, Central Flying School.

 5 Jun 1940:            Officer Commanding, No 15 Sqn.

xx Jan 1941:           CFI, No 33 SFTS (Carberry, Canada).

 7 Mar 1942:          Officer Commanding, No 31 Bombing and Gunnery School (Picton, Canada)

xx Jul 1943:            En-route to UK

28 Sep 1943:          Officer Commanding, No 12 (P) AFU/RAF Spitalgate.

 9-11 Aug 1944:    Attended Intelligence Course, RAF Highgate

11-16 Sep 1944:    Attended University Course, Balliol College, Oxford

15-29 Nov 1944:   Attended No 6 Control Commission (Air) Course, Regents Park

 8 Feb 1945:           Officer Commanding, No 12 (P) AFU/RAF Hixon

xx Apr 1945:          Officer Commanding, No 8302 Air Disarmament Wing (Germany).

xx Sep 1946:          Officer Commanding, RAF Fuhlsbuttel.

15 Jun 1948:          Senior Personnel Staff Officer, HQ Maintenance Command.

xx Jan 1951:           Officer Commanding, RAF Finningley.

23 May 1952:        AOC, AHQ Ceylon.

15 Sep 1955:         SASO, HQ Flying Training Command.

Pilot Officer Joseph Cox before qualifying as a pilot Joseph Cox  at No 4 FTS in Egypt, 1928
Joseph Cox - 1929, shortly after qualifying as a pilot and joining No 8 Squadron Joseph Cox shortly after being promoted to Squadron Leader
Joseph Cox in his flying kit with Flying Officer Douglas Bader behind him and Flt Lt Peter Salter behind him, the other officer in flying kit is Sqn Ldr H A Constantine (later ACM Sir Hugh)
A List of aircraft flown by Joseph Cox during his RAF career

All photos courtesy - Patricia Banks (AVM Cox's daughter)

Joseph Cox spent much of his career in the training field.  Whilst at CFS in the 1930's, he was tasked with carrying out a series of trials into Centre of Gravity problems experienced with the Bristol Bombay.  Following some fairly 'hairy' flights he was able to pinpoint the problems resulting in the Air Ministry issuing instructions that transport pilots should prepare detailed loading sheets before each flight.  In 1939/40, he was one of two instructors responsible for the refresher training of Douglas Bader when he was accepted back into the RAF.

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross

"COX, Joseph, W/C (27049, Royal Air Force) - No.15  Squadron

This officer assumed command of his squadron in May 1940, at a time when its morale was rather low owing to casualties.  Wing Commander Cox personally carried out eight operational sorties by night and led his squadron in the successful combined operations with the navy against Cherbourg on 10th October.  He has at all times set an example of courage and leadership which have earned him the respect and confidence of all members of his squadron, and he has, by his personal example, raised the efficiency and morale of his squadron to an extremely high pitch."

Source - Air 2/9327)

This page was last updated on 03/03/24

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