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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Air Commodore A J Rankin (09080)
Archibald James b: 10 Oct 1896 r: 13 May 1951 d: 8 Feb 1974
OBE - 11 May 1937, AFC - 3 Jul 1926, MiD - 6 May 1932, MiD - 11 Jun 1942, MiD - 2 Jun 1943.
(RNAS):- (T) PFO: 3 Feb 1918.
(RAF):- (T) 2 Lt : 15 Jul 1918, Lt: 10 Sep 1918, Plt Off: 1 Aug 1919 [15 Jul 1918], Fg Off: 27 Sep 1920 [10 Sep 1918], Flt Lt: 1 Jan 1925, Sqn Ldr: 1 Feb 1933, Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1937, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Jun 1940, Act A/Cdre: 24 Jan 1943, Gp Capt (WS): 24 Jul 1943, Gp Capt: 1 Dec 1943, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1946, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1947.
3 Feb 1918: U/T Pilot, RNAS
15 Jul 1918: Appointed to a Temporary Commission
25 Aug 1918: Pilot, No 28 Sqn
10-17 Feb 1919: Admitted to No 24 Casualty Clearing Station (Injured Head)
23 Feb 1919: Returned to Home Establishment
1919 Pilot, HMS Pegasus (Russia)
27 Sep 1920: Awarded a Short Service Commission in the rank of Flying Officer.
8 Feb 1921: Pilot, No 267 Sqn.
6 Apr 1922: Short Service Commission extended to seven years on the Active List
7 Nov 1922: Granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flying Officer. (wef 27 Sep 1920)
xx xxx xxxx: ?
7 Apr 1923: Pilot, No 267 Sqn
2 May 1923: RAF Staff, HMS Pegasus.
21 May 1923: Supernumerary (non-effective - sick), RAF Depot.
29 Jun 1923: Staff, RAF Depot
4 Sep 1923: Staff?, RAF Base Calshot
21 Mar 1924: RAF Staff, HMS PegasusHMS Hermes.
1 May 1925: Staff, School of Naval Co-operation.
15 Mar 1929: 'A' Flight Commander, No 19 Sqn.
3 Jan 1930: Posted to No 70 Sqn.
8 Feb 1930: Flight Commander, No 30 Sqn.
11 Nov 1931: Supernumerary, RAF Depot.
18 Jan 1932: Attended RAF Staff College.
2 Jan 1933: Attended Senior Officer's Tactical Course, Portsmouth.
23 Apr 1933: Supernumerary, RAF Depot.
29 May 1933: Supernumerary, No 1 Air Defence Group.
12 Jun 1933: Air Staff, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence.
24 Oct 1936 : Supernumerary, No 30 Sqn, (arrived 7 Nov 1936)
12 Nov 1936: Officer Commanding, No 30 Sqn.
1 Nov 1937: Air Staff, HQ No 1 (Bomber) Group.
27 Feb 1939: Air Staff, AI 3(b), Deputy Directorate of Intelligence
27 Feb 1939: Air Staff, Deputy Directorate of Intelligence (3). (moved by Dec 39)
24 Jan 1942: SASO, HQ No 205 (Bomber) Group.
xx xxx xxxx:
Group Captain
- ?, Middle East Command.
1 Dec 1942: AOC, No 212 Group.
24 Jan 1943: AOA, HQ Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean.
1 Feb 1944: AOA, AHQ Eastern Mediterranean.
xx Dec 1944: AOA, AHQ Egypt.
26 Mar 1945: AOC, AHQ Egypt.
30 Aug 1945: Deputy AOA, HQ Fighter Command
10 Jun 1946: SASO, AHQ Italy
20 Feb 1947: AOC, AHQ Italy
31 May 1947: AOA, HQ British Commonwealth Air Forces, Japan.
10 Jul 1948: Assistant AOA, AHQ British Air Forces of Occupation
8 Dec 1948: Director of Intelligence (Operations).
During Operation 'Crusader', he led a recce party which followed the Army to choose suitable sites for airfields.
Citation for the award of the Air Force Cross
"RANKIN, Archibald James, F/L
For consistent good work and devotion to duty as pilot and photographer in connection with the air photographic survey carried out during the cruise of HMS Pegasus in the Far East, 1924-25. The standard of this officer's piloting and photography was of the highest order, and he obtained a vast number of photographs for the air survey which often necessitated flying in a float plane over the jungle out of touch with the sea, and under trying conditions of heat."
(Source – Air 30/66)
This page was last updated on 22/09/24©
V B Ranford
