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Air Commodore L H Snelling (27017)


Leonard Howard          b:  3 Oct 1909                    r: 14 Jul 1965                               d: 26 Mar 1985

AFC – 1 Jan 1941,

(RAF): - Plt Off (P): 16 Mar 1928, Plt Off: 16 Mar 1929, Fg Off: 8 Oct 1929, Sqn Ldr: 11 Aug 1947 [1 Jul 1945], Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1949, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1955, A/Cdre: 1 Jun 1962.

(RAFO): - Fg Off: 16 Mar 1933, Flt Lt: 1 Jan 1935, Act Sqn Ldr: xx xxx xxxx, (T) Sqn Ldr: 1 Mar 1941, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1941, Sqn Ldr (WS): 1 Jan 1942, Act Gp Capt: 18 Nov 1943, Wg Cdr (WS): 18 May 1944, Gp Capt: Retained.

16 Mar 1928:               Appointed to a Short Service Commission.

 2 Apr 1928:                U/T Pilot, No 5 Flying Training School.

 5 Mar 1929:                Pilot, No 25 Sqn.

 5 Aug 1930:                Instructor, No 5 Flying Training School.

 5 Jan 1932:                 Instructor, No 504 (County of Nottingham) Sqn.

16 Mar 1933:               Transferred to the RAFO (Class A)

 1 Jan 1940:                 Flight Commander, No 4 EFTS

26 Jul 1941:                 CFI (designate), No 5 SFTS (Forming at West Kirby for transfer to South Africa)

31 Jul - 2 Sep 1941:                 En-route to South Africa on board Ship D13 'Reina del Pacifico' - Draft 152

 4 Sep 1941:                CFI (designate), No 5 SFTS - No 1 Transit Camp

 9-16 Sep 1941:           Temporary Duty, HQ No 24 Training Group attached to No 23 Air School

16 Sep 1941:               CFI, No 25 Air School

 2-5 May 1942:            Temporary Duty, HQ No 24 Training Group

15-20 Oct 1942:          Attended ? Course, No 2 Air School

15 Nov 1942:              Member, British Air Liaison Mission, South Africa

16 Feb 1947:               Resigned his commission in the RAFO retaining the rank of Group Captain.

11 Aug 1947:               Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Squadron Leader and transferred to the Secretarial Branch.

xx xxx xxxx:                  ?

11 Jun 1951:                 Staff, Deputy Directorate of Intelligence (Organisation and Security)

xx xxx 1953:                 Staff, Deputy Directorate of Intelligence (B)

29 Aug 1955:                Group Captain - Organisation, HQ Maintenance Command

 2 Oct 1961:                 AOC, RAF Record Office

Citation for the award of the Air Force  Cross

"SNELLING, Leonard Howard, S/L (27017, Royal Air Force) - No.4 Elementary Flying Training School.

This officer has commanded a flight at this school for four years, first as a reserve officer employed in a civilian capacity and from 1st January 1940 as a mobilised officer of the Royal Air Force.  He has displayed exceptional ability and keenness and his devotion to duty has been an encouragement and an example to all ranks."

(Source - Air 2/8887)

This page was last updated on 12/03/24

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