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Air Vice Marshal R L Ragg (09211)


Robert Linton RaggRobert Linton               b: 9 Apr 1901                     r: 29 Apr 1955                     d: 19 Dec 1973

CB - 9 Jun 1949, CBE - 1 Jan 1945, AFC2 Jan 1928, MiD - 14 Jan 1944, MiD - 8 Jun 1944, CBD (SC) - 11 Feb 1947, Pilcher Memorial Prize, RAeS - 1926

For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here

Plt Off (P): 15 Jan 1921, Plt Off: 15 Jul 1921, Fg Off: 15 Jul 1922, Flt Lt: 1 Jul 1927, Sqn Ldr: 1 Feb 1936, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1939, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Jun 1941, Act A/Cdre: 5 May 1943, Gp Capt (WS): 5 Nov 1943, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Dec 1943, Gp Capt: 23 Jan 1945 [1 Jun 1944], Act AVM: 23 Apr 1945 - 25 Jun 46, A/Cdre (WS): 23 Apr 1946, A/Cdre: 1 Oct 1946,  AVM: 1 Jan 1948.

Robert Linton Ragg

by Elliott & Fry
bromide print, circa 1952
NPG x90778

© National Portrait Gallery, London

15 Jan 1921:            Granted a Short Service Commission.

15 Jan 1921:            U/T Pilot, No 2 FTS.

29 Mar 1922:           Pilot, No 4 Sqn.

25 Jul 1922:             Pilot, Armament and Gunnery School

13 Dec 1922:           Pilot, No 45 Sqn.

11 Sep 1924:           Supernumerary, RAF Depot.

29 Dec 1924:           Pilot, No 7 Sqn.

23 Apr 1925:           Pilot, Experimental Section, RAE.

23 Sep 1929:           Supernumerary, RAF Depot.

 4 Mar 1930:           Pilot, No 201 Sqn.

10 Oct 1930:           Pilot, M. A. E. E.

 6 Feb 1931:            En-route to Basrah as part of Rangoon Flight to join No 203 Sqn.

21 Apr 1931:            Pilot, No 203 Sqn.

11 Mar 1932:           Embarked in SS Varsova on posting to Home Establishment

24 Apr 1933:           Adjutant, RAF South Farnborough.

 1 May 1936:           Group Navigation Officer, HQ No 3 (Bomber) Group.

14 Jul 1936:             Navigation Officer, HQ Bomber Command

19 Jan 1937:            Attended RAF Staff College.

 1 Jan 1938:             Supernumerary, HQ No 6 (Auxiliary) Group.

 1 Apr 1938:            Group Navigation Officer, HQ No 2 (Bomber) Group.

26 Jan 1939:            Command Navigation Officer, HQ Bomber Command.

xx xxx xxxx:             Head - Photography Section, Technical Department, British Air Commission, Washington.

10 Apr 1943:           SASO, HQ No 15 Group.

xx xxx 1944:            Deputy AOC, No 222 Group.

23 Apr 1945:           AOA, HQ Base Air Forces, South East Asia.

 1 Apr 1946:            AOA, AHQ India.

xx xxx 1946:            AOC, No 63 Group.

 2 Apr 1948:            SASO, HQ Transport Command.

26 Jul 1949:             SASO, HQ Far East Air Force.

 4 Feb 1952:            Director-General of Personnel (II).

20 Sep1952:            AOC, No 18 Group/AOC, Scotland and Northern Ireland/Air Commander, Northern Sub-Area, Allied Atlantic Command.

Educated at Oxford Preparatory School from 1911 to 1915, he attended Dulwich College from September 1916 until December 1918 and joined the Ministry of Munitions in April 1919 before joining Vickers Ltd, in August 1919. Eighteen months later he joined the RAF on a Short Service Commission.

He often flew with Bert Harris whilst serving in No 45 Squadron as his bomb aimer.  From 1955 to 1957 he was Bursar to Gordonstoun School as well as a HM Commissioner to Queen Victoria School, Dunblane.  He was then a County Commissioner for the Scouts in Cornwall from 1958 until 1962.

Citation for the award of the Air Force Cross

"RAGG, Robert Linton, F/L (09211)

For exceptional courage and devotion to duty in carrying out spinning tests on the Bristol Fighter and Gloucester Gamecock aeroplanes at the Experimental Section of the Royal Aircraft Establishment.  Invariably he experienced difficulty in recovering from the spins, but on each occasion although very dizzy from the feed and length of the spin, he displayed great coolness and eventually effected a recovery.  He carried out this hazardous work continually over a period of ten weeks and by his courage, ability and determination set a magnificent example to other pilots.  The information derived from these tests has been invaluable."

(Source – Air 30/69)

This page was last updated on 17/10/23

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