Clarence Dunlap
Encyclopedia
Air Marshal
Clarence Rupert Dunlap CBE, CD
, (1 January 1908 – 20 October 2003) was a Canadian
airman who, from 1962 to 1964, served as the last Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Canadian Air Force
. From 1964 to 1967 he was the deputy commander-in-chief of NORAD
. In his later years, Dunlap was the last surviving Royal Canadian Air Force air marshal.
in 1928 or 1929, earning his pilot's wings
at Camp Borden in Ontario. In his early flying career Dunlap was assigned to aerial photography duties when he mapped of large parts of Canada. Later, in the mid-1930s, he worked in air armament.
, Dunlap was the Director of Armament at Air Force Headquarters. In 1942 he was promoted to group captain
and took up command of the air armament school at RCAF Station Mountain View in Ontario.
Dunlap was posted to Great Britain in late 1942, becoming Station Commander of RAF Leeming
in Yorkshire in January 1943. At that time Leeming was part of No. 6 Group
in Bomber Command
. Dunlap's time at Leeming only lasted until to April 1943 and he was then given command of No. 331 (Bomber) Wing which comprised Nos. 420, 424, and 425 Squadrons operating the Wellington bomber in Tunisia
and were used to support the invasion of Sicily and then Italy. Later he was promoted to air commodore
and in January 1945 he was appointed Air Officer Commanding
No. 64 Base headquartered at RAF Middleton St. George
.
(SHAPE). He served as Chief of the Air Staff
, a post he held from 1962 to 1964 before it was abolished as part of the reorganization of the Canadian Forces.
His final service appointment was as the Deputy Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command
(or NORAD). Dunlap was at NORAD from 1964 to 1967. He retired from RCAF in 1968 after relinquishing his appointment at NORAD.
In retirement Dunlap worked on a voluntary basis to support the development of the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa. In 1979 Dunlap moved to Victoria
in British Columbia where he retired from voluntary work. At his death in 2003, Dunlap was the last of the RCAF air marshals.
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Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Clarence Rupert Dunlap CBE, CD
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
, (1 January 1908 – 20 October 2003) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
airman who, from 1962 to 1964, served as the last Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
. From 1964 to 1967 he was the deputy commander-in-chief of NORAD
North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for the two countries. Headquarters NORAD is located at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado...
. In his later years, Dunlap was the last surviving Royal Canadian Air Force air marshal.
Early career
Dunlap joined the Royal Canadian Air ForceRoyal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
in 1928 or 1929, earning his pilot's wings
Aircrew brevet
An aircrew brevet is the badge worn on the left breast, above any medal ribbons, by qualified aircrew in the Royal Air Force, British Army, Indian Air Force, Canadian Forces, Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, South African Air Force and Sri Lanka Air...
at Camp Borden in Ontario. In his early flying career Dunlap was assigned to aerial photography duties when he mapped of large parts of Canada. Later, in the mid-1930s, he worked in air armament.
World War II
On the outbreak of World War IIWorld 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...
, Dunlap was the Director of Armament at Air Force Headquarters. In 1942 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...
and took up command of the air armament school at RCAF Station Mountain View in Ontario.
Dunlap was posted to Great Britain in late 1942, becoming Station Commander of RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, UK.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Leeming. The Station Commander is Group Captain Anthony Innes....
in Yorkshire in January 1943. At that time Leeming was part of No. 6 Group
No. 6 Group RCAF
No. 6 Group RCAF was an organization of Royal Canadian Air Force bomber squadrons which operated from airfields in Yorkshire, England during the Second World War. Although 6 Group was RCAF, it was controlled by the Royal Air Force as part of Bomber Command. No. 6 Group had been previously active...
in 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...
. Dunlap's time at Leeming only lasted until to April 1943 and he was then given command of No. 331 (Bomber) Wing which comprised Nos. 420, 424, and 425 Squadrons operating the Wellington bomber in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
and were used to support the invasion of Sicily and then Italy. Later he was promoted to air commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
and in January 1945 he was appointed Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group...
No. 64 Base headquartered at RAF Middleton St. George
RAF Middleton St. George
RAF Middleton St. George was a Royal Air Force Bomber Command station during World War II. It was located in County Durham, five miles east of Darlington, England....
.
Post War
After the War, Dunlap was Commandant of the National Defence College (1951-4) and Vice-Chief of the Air Staff from 1954 to 1958. Returning to Europe in 1958, Dunlap was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers EuropeSupreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
(SHAPE). He served as Chief of the Air Staff
Chief of the Air Staff (Canada)
The Chief of the Air Staff is the commander and institutional head of the Royal Canadian Air Force...
, a post he held from 1962 to 1964 before it was abolished as part of the reorganization of the Canadian Forces.
His final service appointment was as the Deputy Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for the two countries. Headquarters NORAD is located at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado...
(or NORAD). Dunlap was at NORAD from 1964 to 1967. He retired from RCAF in 1968 after relinquishing his appointment at NORAD.
In retirement Dunlap worked on a voluntary basis to support the development of the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa. In 1979 Dunlap moved to Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
in British Columbia where he retired from voluntary work. At his death in 2003, Dunlap was the last of the RCAF air marshals.
External links
- The Canadian Encyclopedia - Dunlap, Clarence Rupert
- Royal United Services Institute of Vancouver Island - Air Marshal Clarence R (Larry) Dunlap
- Air Marshal Clarence Rupert “Larry” Dunlap, CBE, CD, DCL, DEng, BSc
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