Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
Reginald
Leonard George b: 17 Aug 1889
r: 6 Dec 1945 d:
7 Jan 1966
CB
-
11 Jul
1940, DSO -
21 Oct 1914,
MiD - 14 Mar 1916,
MiD - 11 Jun 1942,
Cwn, C -
29 Aug 1917,
PR2 - 12 Jun 1945.
(RNR):
- Sub-Lt:
1 Nov 1912,
Lt: 17 Apr 1914,
Flt Lt: 1 Jul 1914, Flt
Cdr: 31 Oct 1914, Sqn Cdr: 1 Jan
1916.
(RAF):
- Maj: 1 Apr
1918, Sqn Ldr: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr
1918], Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1930, Gp
Capt: 1 Jan 1936, Act A/Cdre
(unpd): 23 Aug 1939, Act
AVM: 3 Sep 1939
- 8 Jan 1940,
(T) A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1940,
Act
AVM (Paid): 1 Feb - 11 Mar 1940,
Act
AVM: 21 Feb 1941 – 42, A/Cdre (WS):
21 Feb 1941, A/Cdre:
1 Oct 1942 [21 Feb 1941], Act
AVM: 11 Apr 1943,
(T) AVM: 1 Jun
1943, AVM:
Retained.
17
May 1913:
17
Aug 1913:
Attended Central Flying School.
1 Jul 1914: Flight Commander, No 2 Aeroplane Sqn RNAS (Eastchurch/Gallipoli).
1
Jan 1916:
Training Officer, No 3 Wing RNAS.
xx
May 1916: Officer Commanding RNAS Manston.
xx
Jun 1916:
1 Aug 1919: Awarded Permanent Commission as a Major
12
Nov 1919: Staff
Officer 2nd Class (Stores etc.), HQ Coastal Area.
16
Jun 1920: Member, Aeronautical Committee of Guarantee (Germany)
25 Oct 1921: Staff, MT Repair Depot.
11
Apr 1922: Supernumerary - non effective (Sick), RAF Depot.
25 Sep 1922: Attended (Short) Signals Course, Electrical and Wireless School.
2
Oct 1922: Staff, Electrical and Wireless School.
xx
Mar/Apr 1924: AI 1 (c),
Deputy Directorate of Operations and Intelligence.
xx xxx - 26 Sep 1925: Placed on half pay list.
13
Oct 1924: Supernumerary, RAF Depot.
24
Sep 1925: Air Staff, HQ RAF Mediterranean.
8
Oct 1928: Air
Staff, Deputy Directorate of Organisation.
11
Jul 1932:
Supernumerary, RAF Depot.
19
Sep 1932: Officer Commanding, RAF Base Malta.
16
Apr 1934: Officer Commanding, RAF Hal Far.
27
Apr 1936: Officer Commanding, RAF Calafrana.
1 Feb 1937: SASO, HQ No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.
13 Oct 1938: Officer Commanding (Temporary), No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.
13 Nov 1938: SASO, No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.
16 Jan 1939: Officer Commanding, No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.
23 Aug 1939: AOC, No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.
8 Jan 1940: Deputy SASO, HQ Coastal Command.
1 Feb - 12 Mar 1940:
AOC (Temporary), No 16 (Reconnaissance) Group.
24 Mar 1941: AOC, No 18 (Reconnaissance) Group.
10
Mar 1942:
AOA, RAF Ferry Command.
1
Apr 1943: AOC, No 45 Group.
He was educated at Radley
College and
On 8 October 1914, he carried out one the earliest 'strategic' bombing raids in history, when he flew Sopwith Tabloid No 168 to Dusseldorf dropping his small bomb load on an airship hanger containing a Zeppelin which was destroyed. However, his return flight was cut short owing to damage sustained in the attack and he was compelled to land 20 miles short of his base at Antwerp and complete his journey on a borrowed bicycle. He was awarded the DSO for this action.
In
January 1916, he was tasked with the formation of a new No 3 Wing, which was to
attack the Zeppelin manufacturing
plants located in the Rhur. Leading
the first elements of the across the channel to operate from French soil, he
landed just outside Paris where the French asked him to test fly one of their
new aircraft. Obliging them he
unfortunately crashed the aircraft losing a leg as a result, thereby ending his active
service.
Memorandum by the Director of the Air Department, Admiralty: -
"Flight Lieutenant Marix, acting under the orders of Squadron Commander Spenser Grey, carried out a successful attack on the Dusseldorf airship shed during the afternoon of the 8th October. From a height of 600 feet he dropped two bombs on the shed, and flames 500 feet high were seen within thirty seconds. The roof of the shed was also observed to collapse. Lieutenant Marix's machine was under-heavy fire from rifles and mitrailleuse and was five times hit whilst making the attack."
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This page was last updated on 17/10/22©
C C Marindin