Arthur Sanders (RAF officer)
Encyclopedia
Air Chief Marshal
Sir Arthur Penrose Martyn Sanders GCB
KBE
RAF (17 March 1898 – 8 February 1974) was a Royal Flying Corps
pilot during World War I
and a senior Royal Air Force
commander during World War II
and the immediate post-war years.
before undergoing officer training at Sandhurst
. Sanders was commissioned into the Northumberland Fusiliers in April 1916 but transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
a few weeks later. He was a pilot on No 5 Squadron RFC
and in May 1917 was wounded in a dogfight with German aircraft. As a result he lost his arm but managed to land his aircraft. As result of his disability, Sanders was appointed to junior staff officer duties in the latter part of the war. On 1 April 1918, Sanders was transferred to the Royal Air Force
along with his fellow Flying Corps officers.
Sanders remained in the RAF after the war and made steady progress through the ranks. He served in a variety of staff and instructional roles, notably serving on the air staff of Aden Command
in 1932 and 1933. He was promoted to group captain
just prior to the outbreak of World War II
.
During World War II, he first served on the staff of the RAF Staff College
where he was responsible for planning the first wartime course. In 1940 Sanders was appointed the Director of Ground Defence at the Air Ministry
and his work was in part responsible for the establishment of the RAF Regiment
in 1942. In late 1942 Sanders was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff (Air) at the Allied Force Headquarters and in January 1943 he took up post at Air Officer Administration at Bomber Command
.
After the war Sanders served as the Commandant of the RAF Staff College at Bracknell
before spending much of 1948 as Air Officer Commanding in Chief of British Air Forces of Occupation
. He then served as Vice Chief of the Air Staff
and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
. In May 1952 Sanders became Commander in Chief of the RAF's Middle East Air Force
before his final tour as Commandant of the Imperial Defence College
. He retired on 29 January 1956.
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Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir Arthur Penrose Martyn Sanders GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
RAF (17 March 1898 – 8 February 1974) was a Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
pilot during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and a senior Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
commander during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the immediate post-war years.
RAF career
Born the son of a clergyman Henry Martyn Sandars and his wife Maud Mary (née Dixon), Saunders was educated at HaileyburyHaileybury and Imperial Service College
Haileybury and Imperial Service College, , is a prestigious British independent school founded in 1862. The school is located at Hertford Heath, near Hertford, from central London, on of parkland occupied until 1858 by the East India College...
before undergoing officer training at Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
. Sanders was commissioned into the Northumberland Fusiliers in April 1916 but transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
a few weeks later. He was a pilot on No 5 Squadron RFC
No. 5 Squadron RAF
No. 5 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is the operator of the new Sentinel R1 Airborne STand-Off Radar aircraft and is based at RAF Waddington.-History:As No...
and in May 1917 was wounded in a dogfight with German aircraft. As a result he lost his arm but managed to land his aircraft. As result of his disability, Sanders was appointed to junior staff officer duties in the latter part of the war. On 1 April 1918, Sanders was transferred to the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
along with his fellow Flying Corps officers.
Sanders remained in the RAF after the war and made steady progress through the ranks. He served in a variety of staff and instructional roles, notably serving on the air staff of Aden Command
British Forces Aden
British Forces Aden was the name given to the British Armed Forces stationed in the Aden Protectorate during part of the 20th century. Their purpose was to preserve the security of the Protectorate from both internal threats and external aggression.-History:...
in 1932 and 1933. He was promoted to group captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
just prior to the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
During World War II, he first served on the staff of the RAF Staff College
RAF Staff College
The RAF Staff College may refer to:*RAF Staff College, Andover *RAF Staff College, Bulstrode Park *RAF Staff College, Bracknell...
where he was responsible for planning the first wartime course. In 1940 Sanders was appointed the Director of Ground Defence at the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
and his work was in part responsible for the establishment of the RAF Regiment
RAF Regiment
The Royal Air Force Regiment is a specialist airfield defence corps founded by Royal Warrant in 1942. After a 32 week trainee gunner course, its members are trained and equipped to prevent a successful enemy attack in the first instance; minimise the damage caused by a successful attack; and...
in 1942. In late 1942 Sanders was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff (Air) at the Allied Force Headquarters and in January 1943 he took up post at Air Officer Administration at Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
.
After the war Sanders served as the Commandant of the RAF Staff College at Bracknell
RAF Staff College, Bracknell
The RAF Staff College at Bracknell was a Royal Air Force staff college active for most of the second half of the 20th century. Its role was the training of staff officers in the administrative, staff and policy aspects of air force matters...
before spending much of 1948 as Air Officer Commanding in Chief of British Air Forces of Occupation
RAF Second Tactical Air Force
The former RAF Second Tactical Air Force was one of three tactical air forces within the Royal Air Force during and after the Second World War...
. He then served as Vice Chief of the Air Staff
Vice-Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)
The British Vice-Chief of the Air Staff was the post occupied by the senior Royal Air Force officer who served as a senior assistant to the Chief of the Air Staff. The post was created during World War II on 22 April 1940 and its incumbement sat on the Air Council...
and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
The Deputy Chief of the Air Staff was a senior appointment in the Royal Air Force. The incumbent was the deputy to the Chief of the Air Staff. The post existed from 1918 to 1968 or 1969...
. In May 1952 Sanders became Commander in Chief of the RAF's Middle East Air Force
Near East Air Force (Royal Air Force)
The former Royal Air Force Near East Air Force, more simply known as RAF Near East Air Force, was the Command organisation that controlled all Royal Air Force assets in the Western Mediterranean .-History:...
before his final tour as Commandant of the Imperial Defence College
Commandant Royal College of Defence Studies
The Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies was a UK senior serving military officer between 1972 and 2001. The post rotated through the three branches of the armed forces in turn. In 1971 the old Imperial Defence College became the Royal College of Defence Studies...
. He retired on 29 January 1956.
Honours and awards
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire - 11 June 1942
- Order of the Red StarOrder of the Red StarEstablished on 6 April 1930, the Order of the Red Star was an order of the Soviet Union, given to Red Army and Soviet Navy personnel for "exceptional service in the cause of the defense of the Soviet Union in both war and peace". It was established by Resolution of the Presidium of the CEC of the...
awarded by the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics - 11 April 1944 - Commander of the Order of the Bath - 8 June 1944
- Order of Polonia Restituta, Class 2 - 12 Jun 1945
- Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire - 1 January 1946
- Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
grade of Commander awarded by the President of the United States of America - 15 July 1947 - Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath - 1 January 1952
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath - 1 Jan 1955
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