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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Air Vice Marshal T A Langford-Sainsbury (07201)
Thomas Audley b: 23 Nov 1897 r: 15 May 1949 d: 21 Jun 1972
CB - 1945, OBE - 11 Jul 1940, DFC- 10 Jun 1924, AFC - 1 Jan 1919, Bar – 1 Jan 1921, Bar - 11 May 1937, MiD - 2 Jun 1943
(Army):- (T) 2 Lt (P): 26 Sep 1916, (T) 2 Lt: 9 Jun 1917, (T) Lt: 26 Mar 1918.
(RAF):- Lt: 1 Apr 1918, Fg Off: 1 Aug 1919, Flt Lt: 30 Jun 1923, Sqn Ldr: 1 Jun 1932, Wg Cdr: 1 Apr 1937, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Mar 1940, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jun 1942, Act AVM: 16 Nov 1942, Gp Capt: 20 Nov 1942 [1 Oct 1941], A/Cdre (WS): 16 Nov 1943, (T) AVM: 1 Jun 1944 - 47, A/Cdre: 1 Dec 1944, Act AVM: 1 Nov 1947, AVM: Retained.
xx xxx xxxx: Cadet, RFC.
26 Sep 1916: U/T Pilot, RFC.
8 May 1917: Flying Officer, RFC.
13 Jun 1917: Embarked for France
14 Jun 1917: Pilot, No 41 Sqn RFC.
28 Nov 1918: Returned to Home Establishment
9 Sep 1919: Test Pilot, Experimental Section, RAE.
12 Sep 1919: Granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flying Officer.
7 Mar 1922: Pilot, No 30 Sqn.
1 Apr 1924: Flight Commander, No 208 Sqn.
25 May 1926: 'B' Flight Commander, No 15 Sqn.
15 Sep 1927: Flight Commander, Combined 'B' & 'C' Flight, No 15 Sqn.
8 Mar - 22 Apr 1930: Officer Commanding (Temporary), No 15 Sqn.
30 - 27 May 1932: Attached to HM S Norfolk
23 Sep 1932: Supernumerary, No 36 Sqn. (arrived 23 Oct 1932)
8 Nov 1932: Officer Commanding, No 36 Sqn. (Vildebeest)
25 Oct 1935: Embarked for return to the UK on posting to Home Establishment
27 Jan 1936: Officer Commanding, No 48 Sqn. (Anson I)
19 Sep 1938: Air Staff - Operations, HQ No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.
1 Dec 1939: 'C' Watch Commander, HQ No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.
27 May 1940: Attached, RAF Detling.
28 May 1940: Attached as Officer i/c all Flying Units, RAF Detling.
5 Jun 1940: Officer Commanding, RAF Thorney Island
15 Dec 1941: Deputy SASO, HQ Coastal Command.
16 Nov 1942: AOC, No 15 (General Reconnaissance) Group.
5 Mar 1943: AOC, No 201 (Naval Co-operation) Group.
1 Feb 1944: AOC, AHQ Eastern Mediterranean.
xx Nov 1944: AOC AHQ Egypt.
25 May 1945: SASO, HQ Bomber Command.
7 Jul 1947: AOA, HQ British Air Forces of Occupation.
Originally, a member of the Territorial Army.
Announcement for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross
"LANGFORD-SAINSBURY, Thomas Audley, F/L, AFC
"for distinguished service rendered during the operations in Kurdistan between 15th February to 19th June 1923".
(Source: London Gazette - 11 Jun 1924)
Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross
"This officer has shown great ability and devotion to duty during operations. His bombing from low altitudes is carried out in a determined manner. On one occasion after flying low over hostile country he succeeded in driving numbers of mounted tribesmen from their hiding places and in inflicting casualties on them."
(Source: Air 30/58)
Statement for the award of the Bar to the Air Force Cross
"LANGFORD-SAINSBURY, Thomas Audley, F/O
Flight Lieutenant T.A. Tom Langford-Sainsbury, for six years on No.15 Squadron and latterly a Flight Commander, was unrivalled for his tatty uniform and battered hat; he also had the experience of an uncontrolled dive in a Vickers Virginia when an early autopilot “ran away” and could not be disconnected before reaching a speed which threatened to shake him and the aeroplane to pieces."
(Source: Tim Mason, British Flight Testing, Martlesham Heath, 1920-1939 (Putnam, London 1993))
This page was last updated on 30/01/23
J F Langer 
