Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
Distribution of Duties - Air Ministry (1945)
[DPR | PR 1 | PR 2 | PR 3 | PR 4 | PR & AI 5 | PR & AI 6 | PR 7 | PR 8 | PR 9]
Department of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Air
Directorate of Public Relations (DPR)
Name | Status/Rank | Role/Duties/Notes |
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H A Jones | Director (DPR) Killed in a flying accident on 27 Mar 1945 |
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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. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL34 - Jan 1945)
Name | Status/Rank | Role/Duties/Notes |
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Lord Willoughby de Broke | Director (DPR) Took over as Director on death of Mr H A Jones |
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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. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL45 - Dec 1945)
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 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. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL34 - Jan 1945)
Name | Status/Rank | Role/Duties |
Vacant N W Barrymaine J G Ogilvie R W Mound |
Wg Cdr Sqn Ldr 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. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, 1944 - AIR 20/7517 (AL22 - Jan 1944)
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. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL34 - Jan 1945)
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 Sqn Ldr |
Feature and documentary films; news reels. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL45 - Dec 1945)
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 |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL34 - Jan 1945)
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 |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL45 - Dec 1945)
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. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, 1944 - AIR 20/7517 (AL22 - Jan 1944)
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. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL34 - Jan 1945)
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL45 - Dec 1945)
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 Sqn Ldr Flt Off SO |
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. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, 1944 - AIR 20/7517 (AL22 - Jan 1944)
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 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 AFU 3 (b)). Scrutiny and approval of articles and books by Service personnel. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL34 - Jan 1945)
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. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL45 - Dec 1945)
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) |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL34 - Jan 1945)
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. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL45 - Dec 1945)
Name | Status | Role/Duties |
P B Showan H R Bourne D S Chetwood C Middleton H W WileyW M Bradley R V J BurnelM C Hollis R IrwinE Menzies R C White |
Wg Cdr - Head of Branch Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt 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. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, 1944 - AIR 20/7517 (AL22 - Jan 1944)
Name | Status | Role/Duties |
L F Heald P B Showan C Middleton H R Bourne W M Bradley M C Hollis R IrwinE Menzies H W WileyR V J Burnel |
Gp Capt - Head of Branch Wg Cdr - Head of Branch Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt 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. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, 1944 - AIR 20/7517 (AL24 - Mar 1944)
Name | Status | Role/Duties |
P B Showan H R Bourne C Middleton H W WileyP Bracher R V J BurnelA N Hoole R IrwinG L Samson I T StampR C White |
Wg Cdr - Head of Branch Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt Flt Lt 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 |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL34 - Jan 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. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL34 - Jan 1945)
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. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL45 - Dec 1945)
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. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL34 - Jan 1945)
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. |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL45 - Dec 1945)
This page was last updated on 19/07/22