Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


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Air Commodore F J Vincent


Francis John             b: 12 May 1893                  r: 8 Feb 1946                        d: 15 Oct 1967

CBE - 1 Jan 1943, DFC - 6 Jun 1924, MiD - 15 Mar 1929, MiD - 14 Jan 1944.

(RNAS):- PFO: 24 Sep 1916, (T) Flt Sub-Lt: 24 Jan 1917, Act Flt Lt: xx xxx xxxx, Flt Lt: 31 Dec 1917.

(RAF):- (H) Capt [Lt]: 1 Apr 1918, Flt Lt: 1 Aug 1919, Sqn Ldr: 1 Jul 1925, Wg Cdr: 26 Nov 1935, Gp Capt: 1 Apr 1939, Act A/Cdre: 16 Dec 1940? (T) A/Cdre: 1 Mar 1941, A/Cdre: Retained.

xx xxx 1917:              Pilot, Killingholme Air Station.

xx xxx 1918:              Flight Commander?, RAF Great Yarmouth

1918                         Instructor, No 212 Training Depot Station, Vendome.

xx xxx xxxx:               Pilot, Seaplane Station, Malta

12 Sep 1919:            Appointed to a Short Service Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant

1920                         Staff, Flying Instructor's School.

xx xxx 1920:              Awaiting disposal, HQ India Group.

19 May 1920:           Flight Commander, No 3 Sqn.

 1 Apr 1921:             Flight Commander, No 1 Sqn.

23 Aug 1921:            Announcement of SSC cancelled

14 Jan 1923:             QFI, No 4 FTS.

 1 Nov 1923:             Supernumerary, RAF Depot

14 Feb 1924:            Flight Commander, No 32 Sqn.

11 Aug 1925:            Supernumerary, No 56 Sqn. (Grebe II)

22 Sep 1925:            Officer Commanding, No 56 Sqn. (Grebe II)

 9 Sep 1926:             Non-effective (sick), RAF Depot.

21 Sep 1926:            Staff, Aircraft Depot Iraq

11 Feb 1927:            Officer Commanding (designate?), No 84 Sqn.

 5 May 1927:            Officer Commanding, No 84 Sqn.

 8 Aug 1928:             Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank  of Squadron Leader.

30 Oct 1928:            Officer Commanding (designate?), No 45 Sqn.

15 Nov 1928:           Officer Commanding, No 45 Sqn.

 4 Mar 1932:            Supernumerary, RAF Depot.

25 Oct 1932:            Supernumerary, No 17 Sqn. (Bulldog II/IIa)

20 Nov 1932:            Officer Commanding, No 17 Sqn. (Bulldog II/IIa)

 1 Apr 1935:             Staff, M.A.E.E.

27 Sep 1935:            Air Staff, HQ RAF Middle East.

13 Jul 1936:               Officer Commanding, No 206 Sqn. (Anson I)

 5 Nov 1936:             Officer Commanding, RAF Wyton.

30 May 1938:            Supernumerary, HQ No 6 (Auxiliary) Group.

 4 Jan 1939:              Officer Commanding, RAF Watton

22 Aug 1939:            Officer Commanding, No 79 Wing/RAF Watton

 8 Jul 1940:               Officer Commanding, No 16 OTU/RAF Upper Heyford

16 Dec 1940:            AOC, No 81 (Training) Group.

24 Aug 1942:            AOC, No 227 (Training) Group.

He was educated at Cowel's School, Tiverton, Devon.

He was awarded his DFC for distinguished service during operations in Iraq in 1922.  He formed No 206  Squadron at Manston but moved to Bircham Newton on 30 Jul 1936.  He died in the Worcester area.

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross

"VINCENT, Francis John, F/L.

This officer is a skilful and fearless pilot, and has carried out very fine work.  While on detachment duty he led many bombing and low flying raids.  As a result of his example and skilful leading, his formation caused heavy casualties among the enemy."

(Source - Air 30/58)


Citation for the award of a Mention in Despatches

"VINCENT, Francis John, S/L, DFC - - No.84 Squadron

brought to notice by Air Vice-Marshal Sir Edward L. Ellington, KCB, CMG, CBE, Commanding British Forces in Iraq, for distinguished services rendered in the operations against the Akhwan in the Southern Desert, Iraq, during the period November 1927-May 1928".

(London Gazette - 15 March 1929)

This page was last updated on 08/09/23

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