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Air Vice Marshal Sir Anthony Paxton (04161)


A L Paxton - 1917Sir Anthony Lauderdale PaxtonAnthony Lauderdale          b: 7 Aug 1896                     r: 8 Jul 1950                d: 25 Sep 1957

KBE - 2 Jan 1950 (CBE - 2 Jun 1943), CB - 12 Jun 1947, DFC - 28 Oct 1921.

(Army):- 3AM: xx Feb 1917, (T) 2 Lt: 2 Aug 1917, 2 Lt: 16 Oct 1917.

(RAF):- Lt: 1 Apr 1918, Act Capt: 1 Nov 1918, Fg Off: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918], Flt Lt: 1 Jan 1923, Sqn Ldr: 1 Nov 1931, Wg Cdr: 1 Apr 1937, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Mar 1940, Act A/Cdre: xx xxx 1941?, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jun 1942, Gp Capt: 20 Nov 1942 [1 Oct 1941], Act AVM: 5 Sep 1943, A/Cdre: 1 Dec 1944, (T) AVM: 1 Jan 1946, AVM: 1 Oct 1946.

Photo (Far left) - taken from his RAeC Certificate

Photo (left) - Sir Anthony Lauderdale Paxton

by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1945
NPG x169889

© National Portrait Gallery, London

xx Dec 1916:           RFC Cadet, Vancouver, British Columbia.

xx Feb 1917:           Miscellaneous (Aviator), RFC (58995)

16 Oct 1917:          Flying Officer, RFC.

xx xxx xxxx:            Instructor, Scotland

xx xxx 1917:           Pilot, No 2 Sqn AFC

9 Jan 1918:             Embarked for France (by air with No 2 Sqn AFC)

19 Jul 1918:            Returned to Home Establishment

20 Aug 1918:          Instructor, Gullane

 1 Aug 1919:           Awarded Permanent Commission as a Lieutenant

20 Dec 1919:          Staff, No 8 Wing Mobile Disposal Sqn.

xx May 1920:          Awaiting disposal, HQ Middle East Area.

 2 Aug 1920:            Pilot, No 84 Sqn.

 5 Nov 1922:           Staff, Aircraft Depot, Egypt.

12 Jun 1924:            Staff, HQ Egyptian Group.

 1 Nov 1924:           Supernumerary, RAF Depot.

 1 Mar 1925:           Air Staff - T1, Directorate of Training.

21 Dec 1928:          Staff, Central Flying School.

11 Feb 1929:          Instructor's Course, Central Flying School.

 1 May 1929:          QFI, No 1 FTS.

 9 May 1930:          QFI, RAF College.

28 Dec 1931:          Officer Commanding, No 23 Sqn.

16 Feb 1933:          Supernumerary, No 25 Sqn/RAF Hawkinge.

28 Feb 1933:          Officer Commanding, No 25 Sqn/RAF Hawkinge.

30 Jan 1935:           Air Staff - Training, HQ Iraq Command.

 1 Feb 1936:           CFI, Central Flying School.

17 May 1937:         Wing Commander - Operations and Intelligence, HQ No 12 Group

 15 Dec 1937:         Supernumerary, No 6 (Auxiliary) Group

29 Dec 1937:          Staff Officer, Directorate of Training. (moved by Apr 1940)

xx xxx 1940:            Member, Training Mission to South Africa and Southern Rhodesia

xx xxx 1940:            SASO, HQ No 21 Group.

xx xxx 1941:            Director of Air Training, Canada.

 5 Sep 1943:            SASO, HQ Flying Training Command.

12 Jul 1945:             AOC, No 85 Group.

 3 Jun 1946:             AOC, No 2 Group.

xx xxx 1947:            SASO, HQ British Air Forces of Occupation.

 8 Oct 1947:            Director-General of Personnel (II).

?

Born in Sydney, where he spent his early prior to being sent to England to complete his education.  Following completion of his education at Dulwich College (18 September 1909 to December 1911), he travelled to Mexico in 1914 and took up cattle ranching and became British vice-consul in Sonora in 1915.  Released from his vice-consular duties he travelled up to Vancouver and enlisted in the RFC in 1916, immediately being sent to England, being commissioned in 1917, gaining RAeC Certificate No 5149 on 21 August 1917. 

In 1933 he led the No 25 Squadron aerobatic team consisting of nine Hawker Furies in three groups, all nine aircraft being tied together prior to the formation breaking into three separate groups still with the three aircraft in each group remaining tied together.

As CFI at the CFS, he introduced night flying into the  syllabus.  He retired on account of unfitness for Air Force service.

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross

"Flying Officer Anthony Lauderdale Paxton, R.A.F.

For great gallantry and devotion to duty, especially 'during operations around Samawah and Nasiriyeh. This officer's1 reconnaissance reports are exceptionally valuable, and he has proved himself a gallant and daring pilot."

(London Gazette - 28 October 1921)

This page was last updated on 22/11/23

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