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Distribution of Duties - Department of the Chief of the Air Staff Senior Appointments (1940-1945)


[CAS | VCASDCASACAS (Ops)|ACAS (G)ACAS (T) | ACAS (R) | ACAS (TR)ACAS (I) | ACAS (P)]

Chief of the Air Staff (CAS)

1940

Name Status/Title Role/Duties
Sir Charles Portal ACM Chief of the Air Staff (CAS)
  1. All question of Air Force policy and planning.

  2. Advice on the conduct of air operations and issue of order in regard thereto

  3. Fighting efficiency and collective training of the Royal Air Force

R S Crawford   Private Secretary
J S Orme   Assistant Private Secretary
J E Tennant Act Wg Cdr (Plt Off) Personal Air Secretary
D G Simmons Sqn Ldr Personal Assistant

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, 1940- AIR 20/7513

1944

Name Status/Rank Role/Duties/Notes
Sir Charles F A Portal MRAF Chief of the Air Staff
  1. All question of Air Force policy and planning.

  2. Advice on the conduct of air operations and issue of orders in regard threreof.

  3. Fighting efficiency of the RAF

The Department of the CAS is responsible for the following: -

R S Crawford   Private Secretary
H H Cox   Assistant Private Secretary
T I S Eeley Sqn Ldr Personal Assistant

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)


Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS)

1940

Name Status/Title Role/Duties
Sir Wilfred Freeman ACM Vice Chief of the Air Staff (CAS)
  1. Duties as delegated by CAS and attendance at meetings of the War Cabinet and Chiefs of Staff Committee in the absence of the CAS.

G W Salter   Private Secretary
E C Ditcham   Personal Assistant

1944

Name Status Role/Duties
Douglas C S Evill AM Vice Chief of the Air Staff

Duties delegated by CAS and attendance at meetings of the War Cabinet and Chiefs of Staff Committee in the absence of the CAS.

M H Higgins   Private Secretary
G Burges Gp Capt Staff Officer to VCAS
S T Gunnis Higher Clerical Officer Personal Assistant
S M Kilpatrick Flt Off Flt Off to VCAS

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)


Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS)

1940

Name Status/Title Role/Duties
A T Harris AVM Deputy Chief of the Air Staff and Director (DCAS)
  1. Control of the Directorates of Operations.

  2. Supervision of the work of the Directorate of Intelligence.

  3. Responsibility under CAS and VCAS for the day to day conduct of air operations.

W D Findlay   Personal Assistant
W F Dry Wg Cdr Staff Officer to DCAS

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, 1940- AIR 20/7513

1944

Name Status Role/Duties
Sir Norman H Bottomley AM Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
  1. Responsibility under CAS and VCAS for: -

    1. General operational directions issued by the Air Staff to RAF Commands, the co-ordination of operations between RAF Commands and Allied Air Forces, and the detailed study of future operations.

    2. The study and development of Air Tactics and guidance to the appropriate Air Staff branches and to DG of S on the trend of operational needs.

  2. Control of Colonel Turner's Branch and the Air Ministry War Room.

Chairman: -

  • Inter-Services Committee on Chemical Warfare (War Cabinet)

  • Inter-Services Sub-Committee on Biological Warfare (War Cabinet)

  • Air Ministry representative on the Joint Committee on Research and Development Priorities (War Cabinet)

W F Dry Gp Capt Staff Officer to DCAS
A C Kett Air Service Clerk Grade I Personal Assistant

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)


Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) (ACAS (Ops))

1944

Name Status/Rank Role/Duties
Thomas M Williams AVM Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations)
  1. Responsibility under DCAS for advice on the dot to day conduct of air operations.

  2. Control of D of Ops (AD), D B Ops, D of Ops (Tac), D of Ops (M), DAT, D of Nav and D D Science.

Chairman: -

  • Bomb Provisioning Policy Committee

  • Operational Research Committee

  • Meteorological Policy Committee

  • Air Navigation Committee

Member: -

  • Night Air Defence Committee (War Cabinet)

  • Aircrew State Committee

  • Home Defence Committees (War Cabinet)

  • War Cabinet Anti U-boat Committee

ACAS (Ops) is responsible for the following: -

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)


Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (General) (ACAS (G))

1940

Name Status/Title Role/Duties
R H Peck AVM Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (General) (ACAS(G))
  1. Liaison with DPR on Press and Publicity matters including broadcasts and films; and with DPR and D of Plans on propaganda.

  2. Air Staff aspect of communiqués and semi-official statements; censorship.

  3. Liaison with Ministry of Home Security; air raid precautions and warnings; blackout and lighting policy; evacuation policy; anti-sabotage measures.

  4. Air Staff aspect of passive defence; camouflage and deception policy generally.

  5. Ground defence; control of DGD.

  6. Control of DD Photos.

    1. (Note - On the above duties ACAS (G) reports direct to VCAS, consulting DCAS as necessary on their operational aspects)

  7. Assistance to DCAS in the control of the Directorate of Intelligence particularly in regard to security and foreign liaison questions.

W Banfield   Personal Assistant

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, 1940- AIR 20/7513

1944

Name Status/Rank Role/Duties
Sir Richard H Peck AM Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (General)
  1. Responsibility under VCAS for the Air Staff aspects of Public Relations.  Liaison with DPR on press and publicity matters, including broadcasts and films.

  2. Responsibility for the Air Staff aspects of the Official Histories.

  3. Control of DGGD, DSD and DDCP

ACAS (G) is responsible for the following: -

P C Vane-Tempest Flt Off Staff Officer to ACAS (G)

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)


Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operational Requirements and Tactics) (ACAS (T))

1940

 

Name Status/Title Role/Duties
F J Linnell AVM Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operational Requirements and Tactics) (ACAS(T))
  1. Control of the Directorate of Operational Requirements and Deputy Directorate of Air Tactics

  2. Responsibility for the preparation of all Air Staff requirements (except for Signals matters); Air Staff aspect on modifications to airframes, balloons, engines and equipment

  3. Liaison with Directorates of Operations and Commands on matters of operational requirements and tactics; Chairman of Air Fighting and Bombing Committees.

  4. Liaison with Ministry of Aircraft Production.

  5. Policy regarding Regional Control and recognition of aircraft; Chairman of the Inter-Service Recognition Committee.

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, 1940- AIR 20/7513


Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Radio) (ACAS (R))

1940

 

Name Status/Title Role/Duties
Sir Philip Joubert de la Ferte AM Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Radio) (ACAS(R))
  1. Signals organisation and administration.

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, 1940- AIR 20/7513


Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Technical Requirements) (ACAS (TR))

1944

Name Status/Rank Role/Duties
J D Breakey AVM Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Technical Requirements)
  1. Control of DG Arm in respect of Armament requirements and Development Policy.

  2. Control of DOR and DD Photos.

  3. Responsibility for the preparation of all Air Staff requirements (except for Signals matters), Air Staff aspect of modifications to airframes, balloon, engines and equipment.

  4. Liaison with Directorates of Operations and with Commands on matters of operational requirements.

  5. Liaison with Ministry of Aircraft Production.

ACAS (TR) is responsible for the following: -

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)


Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Intelligence) (ACAS (I))

1944

Name Status/Rank Role/Duties
F F Inglis AVM Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Intelligence)
Control of
J A Easton A/Cdre Deputy Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Intelligence)
G S Hebron Sqn Ldr Staff Officer to ACAS (I)

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)


Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Policy) (ACAS (P))

1944

Name Status/Rank Role/Duties
William F Dickson AVM Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Policy)
  1. Responsibility under CAS and VCAS for all question of Air Staff Policy and planning.

  2. Control of D of Plans, DPHP, D of Pol (A), D of Pol (G), DAFL and DATPO*

*Reports to ACAS (OPs) on operational matters.

ACAS (P) is responsible for the following: -

J A McCorquodale Sqn Ldr Staff Officer to ACAS (P)
W D Rusbatch Higher Clerical Officer Personal Assistant

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL36 - May 1945)

Name Status/Rank Role/Duties
William F Dickson AVM Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Policy)
  1. Responsibility for the preparation of briefs for meetings of the Chiefs of Staff and associated committees.

  2. Responsibility under CAS and VCAS for all question of Air Staff Policy and planning.

  3. Control of D of Plans, D of Pol (A), D of Pol (G), DAFL and DATPO*

*Reports to ACAS (Ops) on operational matters.

J A McCorquodale Sqn Ldr Staff Officer to ACAS (P)
W D Rusbatch Higher Clerical Officer Personal Assistant
ASP 1
Francis D S Scott-Malden

K Broadley

D E Milson

J F Ginnett

Gp Capt

Wg Cdr

Wg Cdr

Sqn Ldr

Preparation and co-ordination of briefs for the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

Circulation of Chiefs of Staff Papers and conclusions within the Air Ministry.

Circulation to Air Staff of War Cabinet and other committee Papers.

Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties  - AIR 20/7518 (AL42 - Sep 1945)


This entry was last updated on 23/04/26

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