Directorate of Public Relations

Name	Status	Role/Duties
H Peake	Act A/Cdre (Gp Capt)	Director of Public Relations (DPR)
Lord Willoughby de Broke	Act Gp Capt (Wg Cdr)	Deputy Director of Public Relations (DDPR)
A Blackborow	Staff Officer
Liaison with the Air Staff as regards operational information and press security and with PUS as regards public policy. Liaison with Ministry of Information and with Public Relations Officers at the Admiralty, War Office, Home Office and other government departments. Publicity and exhibitions. Air and counter propaganda. Liaison with BBC. Preparation and issue of official bulletins and communiqués. Administration of censorship. Scrutiny of material for service suitability. Press facilities and talks. War Artists. Feature and documentary films; news reels; official photographs. Service press officers and official photographers.
PR 1
W T S Williams E S Adamson	Sqn Ldr Flt Lt	Air and counter propaganda at home and abroad. Operational photographs; feature and documentary films; Artists' Advisory Committee; Confidential press talks.
PR 2 (Press and Publicity Branch)
C P Robertson	Press and Publicity Officer (DPO)
H J Wilson	Deputy Press and Publicity Officer (DDPO)	Control of Press Section (a) and (b) and Facilities and Administration Branch
Press Section (a)
E H Johnson J R L Hill H H Oak-Rhind J Drabble A F Wyatt	Staff Officer Assistant Press Officer Assistant Press Officer Special Appointment Higher Clerical Officer	Press enquiries and interviews with Press representatives. Issue of Air Ministry bulletins through Ministry of Information and direct control of Official Photographers. Circulation of 'Tape' news and BBC Monitoring Service, etc. Library of Press information records, etc.
Press Section (b)
W S Masters A W Dell G Clark	Staff Officer Special Appointment Special Appointment	Preparation of non-operational material for communiqués, weekly News Letter, and for Press visits, etc. Press publicity for RAF and WAAF recruiting. Scrutiny of newspapers and periodicals and supply of cuttings to Air Ministry and Ministry of Aircraft Production.. Press cuttings library.
Press Section (c) (Edinburgh)
F Murray Milne	Press Officer	Liaison with Scottish Press and News Reel, etc representatives. Local enquires, press visits, etc.
Facilities and Administration Section
H D Blow S H Robinson F W Douglas de Fenzi	Staff Officer Higher Clerical Officer Higher Clerical Officer	Organisation of visits to RAF stations and Air Ministry establishments; issue and record of permits for press, film companies, etc; liaison with Service Press Officers thereon. Organisation of special ceremonies for publicity purposes. Obtaining official approval for War Correspondents, reporters, photographers, film cameramen, broadcasting representatives and artists. Audience arrangements for confidential press talks. Administration of Service Press Officers and War Correspondents.
Publicity Section
Vacant H J Minchinton J Foss	Publicity Officer Higher Clerical Officer Special Appointment	Compilation of publicity brochures, leaflets, etc; provision of posters and arrangements for distribution. Co-ordination and editing of Air Ministry press advertising, space buying and liaison with official agents except for insertion orders. Organisation of exhibitions and other publicity displays. Photographic Library. Sale and Supply of official photographs. Publicity expenditure - records and estimates. Miscellaneous publicity.
Information Bureau
P Griffiths	Higher Clerical Officer	Public enquiries on aviation generally, and RAF and WAAF recruiting requirements.
PR 3
C A Lewis S Bishop L V Dodds G C Brazier	Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Higher Clerical Officer	Preparation of material for official communiqués in collaboration with PR and AI6. Co-ordination of work of Service Press Officers. Sub-editing of AM News Service stories and feature articles; editing of all operational material supplied by Service Press Officers foe Weekly News Letters; provision of material to Ministry of Aircraft Production for aircraft factories.
PR 4
E B Beauman	Wg Cdr (Ret'd)	Head of Branch General liaison with BBC (through M of I when necessary) and with other broadcasting services on broadcasting questions affecting the RAF. Preparation (in co-operation with SPOs) of broadcast scripts by serving personnel. Scrutiny of articles, books, photographs and films on the RAF for service suitability.
PR & AI 5
C R S Bradley	Gp Capt	Head of Branch Air Adviser to M of I, including News and Censorship Divisions.
C Chapman	Wg Cdr	Submissions for Air Censorship. Liaison with M of I on air matters.
T Cochrane	Assistant Press Officer	Press enquiries on Air matters at M of I. Channel of communication between Air Ministry and M of I for issue of all news.
PR & AI 6
L F Heald B Travers J P Graham I M Horobin D S Chetwood A H G Craske C Middleton F E Hodgson P B Showan H R Bourne R A Bradley G F Woolf V E R Blunt D C L Potter P J Sykes H W Wiley L R C Cartwright	Wg Cdr Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt Fg Off Fg Off Plt Off	Official operational communiqués and joint communiqués with Admiralty, War Office and Ministry of Home Security. Liaison with Censorship Division, M of I. Defence notices; investigation of breaches of censorship. Security control of all material issued for publication by Air Ministry, or obtained as a result of facilities granted by the Air Ministry. Interpretation of Air Staff policy concerning operations and security.

Name	Status/Rank	Role/Duties/Notes
Joint responsibility to CAS and PUS for interpretation of Air Council policy to the public and of public opinion to the Air Council Issue of Air Ministry and RAF communiqués and news through all usual agencies. Co-ordination and provision of all forms of publication : - films broadcasts pamphlets articles paid advertising exhibitions Security of service and general suitability of all matter issued from or passed by the Directorate. Co-ordination of war artists' work.
H A Jones		Director (DPR) Killed in a flying accident on 27 Mar 1945
Lord Willoughby de Broke	Gp Capt	Deputy Director (General) (DDPR (G)) Administration of PR 1, PR 3 and PR 4, PR and AI 5 and PR and AI 6. Organisation of Public Relations Units at Commands and administration of their personnel. Consideration of Public Relations organisation for future operations in consultation with DDPR (P). Air Ministry representative on Artists' Advisory Committee (M of I).
C P Robertson		Deputy Director (Press) (DDPR (P)) Direction of CNE, PR 2, PR 8 and PR 9. Supervision of all news, feature and photographic material issued to the Press. Co-ordination of news and publicity policy with M of I and other Government Departments and general organisation of news service with the Commands Liaison with DG of M regarding recruiting publicity. Contact with newspaper proprietors' organisations and kindred bodies.

Name	Status/Rank	Role/Duties/Notes
Joint responsibility to CAS and PUS for interpretation of Air Council policy to the public and of public opinion to the Air Council Issue of Air Ministry and RAF communiqués and news through all usual agencies. Co-ordination and provision of all forms of publication : - films broadcasts pamphlets articles paid advertising exhibitions Security of service and general suitability of all matter issued from or passed by the Directorate. Co-ordination of war artists' work.
Lord Willoughby de Broke		Director (DPR) Took over as Director on death of Mr H A Jones
J G Ogilvie	Wg Cdr	Deputy Director (General) (DDPR (G)) Administration of PR 1, PR 3 and PR 4 and PR and AI 5. Organisation of Public Relations Units at Commands and administration of their personnel. Consideration of Public Relations organisation for future operations in consultation with DDPR (P). Air Ministry representative on Artists' Advisory Committee (M of I).
C P Robertson		Deputy Director (Press) (DDPR (P)) Direction of CNE, PR 2, PR 8 and PR 9. Supervision of all news, feature and photographic material issued to the Press. Co-ordination of news and publicity policy with M of I and other Government Departments and general organisation of news service with the Commands Liaison with DG of M regarding recruiting publicity. Contact with newspaper proprietors' organisations and kindred bodies.

Name

Status/Rank

Role/Duties

Sir Walter Nicholson

A Blackborow

J Franks

C P Feest (not AL45)

Special Appointment - Head of Branch

Staff Officer

Higher Clerical Officer

General secretarial duties for the Directorate.

All questions affecting war artists and the clerical staff of the Directorate.

Administrative questions affecting DPR Service personnel, Public Relations Officers and official photographers at home and abroad.

Name

Status/Rank

Role/Duties

Vacant

N W Barrymaine

J G Ogilvie

R W Mound

Wg Cdr

Sqn Ldr

Flt Lt

Planning and co-ordination of issue of news material, articles, photographs, news reels and broadcasts.

General liaison with Public Relation branches of other Services for co-ordination purposes.

Editing of news stories and articles with particular regard to Air Ministry policy.

Liaison with Command Public Relations Officers.

A J Henderson

Sqn Off

Co-ordination and planning of WAAF publicity, liaison with DWAAF and Public Relations branches of Women's Services.

Name

Status

Role/Duties

D N Twist

Wg Cdr

Head of Branch

Air Ministry representative on War Films and News Reel Committee (M of I).

N Lloyd

J E Ricketts)

J Frost

Sqn Ldr

Flt Lt

Flt Off

Film questions, other than training, recreational or welfare films (see T Films and DD Films respectively)

Administration and direction of RAF Film Production Unit.

Name

Status

Role/Duties

N Lloyd

Wg Cdr

Head of Branch

Film questions, other than training, recreational or welfare films (see T Films and DD Films respectively)

Air Ministry representative on War Films and News Reel Committee (M of I).

Administration and direction of RAF Film Production Unit.

J E Ricketts

N J Robertson

Sqn Ldr

Feature and documentary films; news reels.

Name	Status/Rank	Role/Duties
T Cochrane	Senior Press Officer	Head of Branch New and Press matters
PR 2 (a)
H P Haddow R J Dingle G M Thomas G R Williams L W Cowland R F Tiltman Miss K Martin	Press Officer Assistant Press Officer Assistant Press Officer Assistant Press Officer Higher Clerical Officer Higher Clerical Officer Temporary Assistant	Channel for communication with the Press. Press enquiries and guidance. Arrangement of Press interviews and background talks with officers at the Air Ministry. Liaison with News Division, M of I and with Press Officers of other Government Departments. Sub-editing of news stories. Preparation of daily News Analysis and Monthly Analysis of Reviews. Circulation of 'tape' news and BBC monitoring report.
PR 2 (b)
A S Allberry (AL34) G Thomas (AL45) E N Parker E R A Wilson	Press Officer Press Officer Assistant Press Officer Assistant Press Officer	Preparation of casualty, awards and other non-operational communiqués and bulletins (including notes of careers), monthly Statistical Review of Operations, news articles and briefs. Digest of public opinion of RAF for the Air Staff. Review of operations for RAF News and other Service journals.
PR 2 (c)
Miss M I Lee C A Stock	Temporary Assistant Temporary Assistant	Records and statistics of RAF operations, aircraft, air losses, etc for Press references and public use. Press cuttings
R Yeats	Press Officer (Edinburgh)	Liaison with Scottish Press, broadcasting , news reels, etc representatives. Local press enquiries and guidance. Arrangements for press visits, etc in Scotland

Name	Status/Rank	Role/Duties
T Cochrane	Senior Press Officer	Head of Branch New and Press matters
PR 2 (a)
H P Haddow Vacant M S Gunnill B P Bishop R F Tiltman Miss K Martin	Press Officer Assistant Press Officer Assistant Press Officer Assistant Press Officer Higher Clerical Officer Temporary Assistant	Channel for communication with the Press. Press enquiries and guidance. Arrangement of Press interviews and background talks with officers at the Air Ministry. Liaison with News Division, M of I and with Press Officers of other Government Departments. Sub-editing of news stories. Preparation of daily News Analysis and Monthly Analysis of Reviews. Circulation of 'tape' news and BBC monitoring report.
PR 2 (b)
G Thomas E N Parker E R A Wilson	Press Officer Assistant Press Officer Assistant Press Officer	Preparation of casualty, awards and other non-operational communiqués and bulletins (including notes of careers), monthly Statistical Review of Operations, news articles and briefs. Digest of public opinion of RAF for the Air Staff. Review of operations for RAF News and other Service journals.
PR 2 (c)
Miss M I Lee C A Stock	Temporary Assistant Temporary Assistant	Records and statistics of RAF operations, aircraft, air losses, etc for Press references and public use. Press cuttings
R Yeats	Press Officer (Edinburgh)	Liaison with Scottish Press, broadcasting , news reels, etc representatives. Local press enquiries and guidance. Arrangements for press visits, etc in Scotland

Name	Status/Rank	Role/Duties
Vacant	Wg Cdr	Head of Branch Production of pamphlets, features, etc and press photographs. Factory liaison.
PR 3 (a)
D R Barker A G A Harmsworth H E Bates J S Pudney R Hudson J Macadam J C F G Bentley M M Hamilton F A Walbank	Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Flt Lt Flt Lt Fg Off SO Plt Off	Preparation of official propaganda pamphlets and of feature stories and narratives other than news in conjunction with Senior Public Relations Officers.
PR 3 (Ph)
W E Truby W J R Quann H D S Chadwick D M Harrison D Nelson Miss A M Johnson	Sqn Ldr Flt Lt Flt Lt SO SO Temporary Assistant	Direction of official photographers. Supply of official photographs (including 'stills' from official films) to M of I for press and publicity purposes. Photographic library of official and agency photographs.
PR 3 (b)
J E Mann P R Tanton	Sqn Ldr Fg Off	Liaison on propaganda with MAP, Ministry of Supply, etc. Supply of personnel for factory visits.

Name	Status/Rank	Role/Duties
D R Barker (AL34) Vacant (AL45)	Wg Cdr	Head of Branch AL34 Production of pamphlets, features, etc and press photographs. Factory liaison. AL45 Production of pamphlets, features, etc and press photographs.
PR 3 (a)
H E Bates (AL34) A G A Harmsworth (AL34) W V Noble (AL34) J S Pudney R F Delderfield (AL34) R E Huson (AL34) F A Walbank	Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt	Preparation of official propaganda pamphlets and of feature articles and narratives other than news in conjunction with Senior Public Relations Officers. Stories of named aircraft and squadrons.
PR 3 (b)
W E Truby (AL34) T H Palmer (AL45) J R Quann D M Harrison (AL34) D Nelson A M Johnson (AL34)	Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Flt Lt Flt Off Flt Off Temporary Assistant	Direction of official photographers. Supply of official photographs (including 'stills' from official films) to M of I for press and publicity purposes. Photographic library of official and agency photographs.
PR 3 (c)
J E Mann	Sqn Ldr	Liaison on propaganda with MAP, Ministry of Supply, etc. Supply of personnel for factory visits.

Name

Status/Rank

Role/Duties

E B Beauman

W Pollock

W M Caverhill

V A Higgins

Vacant

Wg Cdr (Ret'd) - Head of Branch

Sqn Ldr

Flt Off

Liaison with the BBC and other Broadcasting corporations on broadcasting questions affecting the RAF and broadcasts by Service personnel (except entertainment and welfare broadcasts arranged by AFW 3 (b)).

Scrutiny and approval of articles and books by Service personnel.

Name

Status/Rank

Role/Duties

E B Beauman

H J Downing

S A Carr

P Sykes

Wg Cdr (Ret'd) - Head of Branch

Sqn Ldr

Flt Off

Scrutiny and approval of articles and books by Service personnel.

Name	Status/Rank	Role/Duties
E B Beauman S A Carr	Wg Cdr (Ret'd) - Head of Branch Sqn Ldr	Liaison with the BBC and other Broadcasting corporations on broadcasting questions affecting the RAF and broadcasts by Service personnel (except entertainment and welfare broadcasts arranged by AFU 3 (b)). Scrutiny and approval of articles and books by Service personnel.

Name	Status/Rank	Role/Duties
C R S Bradley	Gp Capt	Head of Branch Chief Air Advisor to M of I
Air Advisors
C Chapman B H Bevan-Petman M A B King-Hamilton T A Costigan A Duxbury J A Simpson	Wg Cdr Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Flt Lt Flt Lt	Guidance to the Press at the M of I on operational matters. Security censorship (under the direction of ACAS (I) through D of I (S)) of press material on air matters (including news reels and films, books, broadcasts, records, etc) submitted to Censorship Division of M of I. Censorship of material resulting from facility visits to RAF stations and examination for Service policy and suitability. Censorship of, and advice on, official publications and propaganda referred to M of I. Security examination of press cables from overseas.
Air Affairs
P A Hope-Wallace J L T Roberts C R Preece	Press Officer - Head of Section Assistant Press Officer Assistant Press Officer	Handling of communiqués and bulletins from Air Ministry for issue through M of I. Press enquiries at M of I. Maintenance of records of RAF operations, aircraft, personnel, squadrons, etc for press reference.
PR 5 (c)
T F J Connor	Accounts Officer	General questions on works accounting procedure
A J Hodges Miss D Facer	Higher Clerical Officer Higher Clerical Officer	Audit of cash accounts of Works areas (home)
Travelling Audit Staff
R J Holt H H Hunt E Black J W Lee	Assistant Accounts Officer Higher Clerical Officer Higher Clerical Officer Higher Clerical Officer	Local audit of wages, salaries and stores accounts at Work areas (home)

Name	Status/Rank	Role/Duties
Air Advisors
C R S Bradley	Gp Capt	Head of Branch Chief Air Advisor to M of I
C Chapman	Wg Cdr	Guidance to the Press at the M of I on operational matters.
Air Affairs
P A Hope-Wallace J L T Roberts	Press Officer - Head of Section Assistant Press Officer	Handling of communiqués and bulletins from Air Ministry for issue through M of I. Press enquiries at M of I. Maintenance of records of RAF operations, aircraft, personnel, squadrons, etc for press reference.

Name

Status

Role/Duties

P B Showan

H R Bourne

D S Chetwood

C Middleton

H W Wiley

W M Bradley

R V J Burnel

M C Hollis

R Irwin

E Menzies

R C White

Wg Cdr - Head of Branch

Sqn Ldr

Flt Lt

Preparation of Air Ministry communiqués of operations (Under the direction of ACAS (G)) and liaison with other Service Departments, CCO and Ministry of Home Security, in connection therewith.

Security control (Under the direction of ACAS (I), through D of I (S)) of material issued by Air Ministry for publication.

Advice on Air Staff policy in relation to operational news.

Guidance on significance of current operational information.

Name

Status

Role/Duties

L F Heald

P B Showan

C Middleton

H R Bourne

W M Bradley

M C Hollis

R Irwin

E Menzies

H W Wiley

R V J Burnel

Gp Capt - Head of Branch

Wg Cdr - Head of Branch

Sqn Ldr

Flt Lt

Preparation of Air Ministry communiqués of operations (Under the direction of ACAS (G)) and liaison with other Service Departments, CCO and Ministry of Home Security, in connection therewith.

Security control (Under the direction of ACAS (I), through D of I (S)) of material issued by Air Ministry for publication.

Advice on Air Staff policy in relation to operational news.

Guidance on significance of current operational information.

Name

Status

Role/Duties

P B Showan

H R Bourne

C Middleton

H W Wiley

P Bracher

R V J Burnel

A N Hoole

R Irwin

G L Samson

I T Stamp

R C White

Wg Cdr - Head of Branch

Sqn Ldr

Flt Lt

Preparation of Air Ministry communiqués of operations (Under the direction of ACAS (G)) and liaison with other Service Departments, CCO and Ministry of Home Security, in connection therewith.

Security control (Under the direction of ACAS (I), through D of I (S)) of material issued by Air Ministry for publication.

Advice on Air Staff policy in relation to operational news.

NB - This Branch had closed by December 1945

Name	Status	Role/Duties
F M Milne H V Case	Publicity Officer - Head of Branch Staff Officer	Publicity, exhibitions and Information Bureaux.
PR 8 (a)
E Holmes Miss D Hartley	Layout Artist Assistant Layout Artist	Preparation of publicity material for recruiting etc. Co-ordinating and editing, in conjunction with M of I of Air Ministry press adverting
PR 8 (b)
A F Wyatt L A Rushbrooke H A Digby J G Potts Vacant	Higher Clerical Officer Higher Clerical Officer Temporary Assistant Temporary Assistant Temporary Assistant	Organisation of exhibitions with other publicity displays; design and display of publicity material. Liaison with M of I on publicity and exhibitions.
PR 8 (c)
J R Smith	Temporary Assistant	Publicity Stores - custody and issue. Accounting section of DPR
Information Bureaux (AMIB)
P Griffiths	Higher Clerical Officer	Public enquiries on RAF, WAAF and ATC recruiting requirements and on aviation generally.

Name	Status	Role/Duties
A S Allberry (AL45) H V Case	Publicity Officer - Head of Branch Staff Officer	Publicity, exhibitions and Information Bureaux.
PR 8 (a)
E Holmes Miss D Hartley	Layout Artist Assistant Layout Artist	Preparation of publicity material for recruiting etc. Co-ordinating and editing, in conjunction with M of I of Air Ministry press adverting
PR 8 (b)
A F Wyatt L A Rushbrooke V Kirby H A Digby Vacant	Higher Clerical Officer Higher Clerical Officer Special Appointment Temporary Assistant Temporary Assistant	Organisation of exhibitions with other publicity displays; design and display of publicity material. Liaison with M of I on publicity and exhibitions.
PR 8 (c)
J R Smith	Temporary Assistant	Publicity Stores - custody and issue. Accounting section of DPR
Information Bureaux (AMIB)
P Griffiths	Higher Clerical Officer	Public enquiries on RAF, WAAF and ATC recruiting requirements and on aviation generally.

Name	Status	Role/Duties
H D Blow	Senior Staff Officer	Head of Branch Organisation of facilities and issue of permits to visit RAF stations and Air Ministry establishment by press, film, newsreel and broadcast representatives. Licensing of war correspondents, register of 'approved' correspondents. Arrangements for press conferences. Liaison with M of I and other Departments on press facilities.
F E Douglas de Fenzi	Higher Clerical Officer	Visits concerning Bomber and Coastal Commands.
S Bloomfield	Higher Clerical Officer	Visits concerning Fighter and Balloon Commands. All questions concerning War Correspondents.
C J Gravener	Higher Clerical Officer	Visits concerning Transport, Technical Training, Flying Training and Maintenance Commands.

Name	Status	Role/Duties
H D Blow	Senior Staff Officer	Head of Branch Organisation of facilities and issue of permits to visit RAF stations and Air Ministry establishment by press, film, newsreel and broadcast representatives. Licensing of war correspondents, register of 'approved' correspondents. Arrangements for press conferences. Liaison with M of I and other Departments on press facilities.
F E Douglas de Fenzi	Higher Clerical Officer	Visits concerning Bomber and Coastal Commands.
Vacant	Higher Clerical Officer	Visits concerning Fighter Command. All questions concerning War Correspondents.
C J Gravener	Higher Clerical Officer	Visits concerning Transport, Technical Training, Flying Training and Maintenance Commands.