Brian Stanbridge
Encyclopedia
Air Vice-Marshal
Sir
Brian (Gerald Tivy) Stanbridge, KCVO
CBE
AFC
, a senior Royal Air Force
officer
.
He was born 6 July 1924. Joining the RAF at 18, he underwent flying training with the RAFVR.
He was appointed a Pilot Officer
14 January 1944, and promoted to Flying Officer
14 July 1944, when he was a pilot in No 31 Squadron
. No 31 Squadron, equipped with Dakotas, was in the Far East
. He was involved in army support and supply-dropping missions in the Burma theatre.
With the disbandment of No 31, he transferred to No 47 Squadron in the United Kingdom
. Initially flying Halifax
A9, the squadron became the first unit to fly the Handley Page Hastings
in October 1948. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
14 July 1947.
On 1 June 1948 he was appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant, and in 1950 attended the Central Flying School
. Afterwards he joined No 2 Flying Training School as a flying instructor (QFI). He later moved to the Central Flying School.
In 1952 Stanbridge was a member of the British Joint Services Mission to Burma, and in 1954 he became a pilot in The Queen’s Flight
, being promoted to Squadron Leader
on 1 July 1954. Whilst with The Queen’s Flight, he was the personal pilot and flying instructor to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
He attended the Royal Naval Staff College in 1958 and on 4 August 1958 became Personal Staff Officer to the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Coastal Command.
On 1 July 1959 he was promoted to Wing Commander
and on 24 April 1960 was appointed Wing Commander - Flying, RAF St Mawgan
.
He attended the Joint Services Staff College
from January 1962, and on 21 December 1962 joined the RAF Directing Staff, Army Staff College, Camberley. He was promoted to Group Captain
on 1 July 1963.
In 1966 he was RAF Director, Joint Anti-Submarine School/Officer Commanding, RAF Aldergrove
/Senior RAF Officer, Northern Ireland
. On 28 August 1966 he joined the staff of the NATO Standing Group, Washington, D.C.
.
On 18 March 1968 he was made Group Captain - Operations, HQ Coastal Command.
Next year, on 28 November 1969, he became Air Commodore - Operations/Training, HQ No 18 Group
, and was promoted to Acting Air Commodore
. In January 1970 he attended the Imperial Defence College, and was promoted to substantive Air Commodore 1 January 1970.
Later, he became Secretary, Chiefs of Staff Committee
(10 April 1971), and then Assistant Commandant, RAF Staff College
(12 December 1973). From 5 November 1973 to 27 March 1975 he held the honorary appointment of ADC
to The Queen.
On 17 April 1975 he was appointed Defence Services Secretary
to HM The Queen, having been promoted to Acting Air Vice Marshal on 27 March 1975. He became a substantive Air Vice Marshal on 1 January 1976. He retired 6 July 1979.
From 1979 to 1985 he was Director-General of the Air Transport User's Committee. He died 12 February 2003.
KCVO
- 1979 (MVO - 1 Jan 1959), CBE
– 1 Jan 1974, AFC
– 5 Jun 1952, KCVSA - 14 Jun 1943
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Brian (Gerald Tivy) Stanbridge, KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
, 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...
officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
.
He was born 6 July 1924. Joining the RAF at 18, he underwent flying training with the RAFVR.
He was appointed a Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
14 January 1944, and promoted to Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
14 July 1944, when he was a pilot in No 31 Squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
. No 31 Squadron, equipped with Dakotas, was in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
. He was involved in army support and supply-dropping missions in the Burma theatre.
With the disbandment of No 31, he transferred to No 47 Squadron in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Initially flying Halifax
Handley Page Halifax
The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing...
A9, the squadron became the first unit to fly the Handley Page Hastings
Handley Page Hastings
The Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings was a British troop-carrier and freight transport aircraft designed and built by Handley Page Aircraft Company for the Royal Air Force...
in October 1948. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
14 July 1947.
On 1 June 1948 he was appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant, and in 1950 attended the Central Flying School
Central Flying School
The Central Flying School is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 it is the longest existing flying training school.-History:...
. Afterwards he joined No 2 Flying Training School as a flying instructor (QFI). He later moved to the Central Flying School.
In 1952 Stanbridge was a member of the British Joint Services Mission to Burma, and in 1954 he became a pilot in The Queen’s Flight
No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron RAF
No. 32 Squadron of the Royal Air Force at present operates from RAF Northolt, west London, in the VIP and general air transport roles.-Formation:...
, being promoted to Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
on 1 July 1954. Whilst with The Queen’s Flight, he was the personal pilot and flying instructor to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
He attended the Royal Naval Staff College in 1958 and on 4 August 1958 became Personal Staff Officer to the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Coastal Command.
On 1 July 1959 he was promoted to Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
and on 24 April 1960 was appointed Wing Commander - Flying, RAF St Mawgan
St Mawgan
St Mawgan in Pydar is a civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village of St Mawgan is situated four miles northeast of Newquay....
.
He attended the Joint Services Staff College
Joint Services Staff College
Joint Services Staff College may refer to:* Joint Services Staff College , the former name of the "Joint Service Defence College"* Joint Services Staff College , the former name of the "Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies"...
from January 1962, and on 21 December 1962 joined the RAF Directing Staff, Army Staff College, Camberley. 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...
on 1 July 1963.
In 1966 he was RAF Director, Joint Anti-Submarine School/Officer Commanding, RAF Aldergrove
Aldergrove
Aldergrove is the name of multiple places:* Aldergrove, British Columbia* Aldergrove, Northern Ireland, a village close to the site of:**RAF Aldergrove**Belfast International Airport* Aldergrove, Edmonton, a neighbourhood....
/Senior RAF Officer, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. On 28 August 1966 he joined the staff of the NATO Standing Group, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
On 18 March 1968 he was made Group Captain - Operations, HQ Coastal Command.
Next year, on 28 November 1969, he became Air Commodore - Operations/Training, HQ No 18 Group
Group (air force)
A group is a military aviation unit, a component of military organization and a military formation. Usage of the terms group and wing differ from one country to another, as well as different branches of a defence force, in some cases...
, and was promoted to Acting Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
. In January 1970 he attended the Imperial Defence College, and was promoted to substantive Air Commodore 1 January 1970.
Later, he became Secretary, Chiefs of Staff Committee
Chiefs of Staff Committee
The Chiefs of Staff Committee is composed of the most senior military personnel in the British Armed Forces.-History:The Chiefs of Staff Committee was initially established as a sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence in 1923. It remained as such until the abolition of the CID upon the...
(10 April 1971), and then Assistant Commandant, RAF Staff College
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...
(12 December 1973). From 5 November 1973 to 27 March 1975 he held the honorary appointment of ADC
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to The Queen.
On 17 April 1975 he was appointed Defence Services Secretary
Defence Services Secretary
The Defence Services Secretary is a senior member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. Reporting to the Private Secretary's Office, he is responsible for liaison between the Sovereign and the British Armed Forces...
to HM The Queen, having been promoted to Acting Air Vice Marshal on 27 March 1975. He became a substantive Air Vice Marshal on 1 January 1976. He retired 6 July 1979.
From 1979 to 1985 he was Director-General of the Air Transport User's Committee. He died 12 February 2003.
KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
- 1979 (MVO - 1 Jan 1959), CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
– 1 Jan 1974, AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
– 5 Jun 1952, KCVSA - 14 Jun 1943