Frank Inglis
Encyclopedia
Air Vice-Marshal
Francis "Frank" Frederic Inglis CB
, CBE
(22 June 1899 – 25 September 1969) was a British officer in the Royal Air Force
who became the head of RAF Intelligence
Staff during World War II reporting to Winston Churchill
. In 1942 he was sent to America by Churchill, where he successfully persuaded President Franklin D. Roosevelt
to direct the main American war effort against Germany rather than Japan.
) and Ernestine (Nina) May Pigou (1863–1941). His grandparents were Major-General Sir John Eardley Inglis
and Lady Julia Inglis, who had survived the Siege of Lucknow
, and Francis Pigou
, the Dean of Bristol. His sister, Mildred Inglis (1897–1979), was married to (Sir) Victor Goddard
(1897–1987) who was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during World War II.
Inglis was educated at Sandhurst
and graduated in 1918, from where he enlisted in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
.
In the summer of 1927, he married Vera Helen "Midge" Turner (b. 1906). They had three daughters:
His cousin, John Inglis
was head of Naval Intelligence
from 1954 to 1960.
, until July 1921, when he was seconded to the Royal Air Force as a flying officer
. After 18 months at No. 5 Flying Training School, in December 1922 he joined No. 84 Squadron
as a pilot, based in Iraq, flying DH.9As
. In April 1925, he was on the staff of the RAF depot in Egypt, before joining No. 208 Squadron
in January 1926. By now, Inglis had resigned his commission in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and had been appointed to a permanent commission in the rank of flying officer.
On 1 July 1927, Inglis was promoted to flight lieutenant
; he was immediately placed on half pay until the end of July, having recently got married.
On his return to active service, Inglis joined the staff at No 4 Apprentice's Wing, RAF Cranwell
. In April 1931, he transferred to the staff of the RAF College
, until returning to Iraq in December 1933 as a member of the air staff, HQ Iraq Command
. In January 1936, he returned to England, and attended the RAF Staff College
at Andover
. He was promoted to squadron leader
on 1 April 1936 and to Wing Commander
on 1 March 1939.
, and promoted to deputy director of intelligence (3) (DDI3) in 1940. In this role, he was head of the German branch of air intelligence. He was promoted to the rank of group captain
in September 1941, to (acting) air commodore
in March 1942.
In March 1942, he was promoted to director of intelligence (operations), reporting direct to the prime minister, Winston Churchill
. Following the entry of the United States into the Second World War, Churchill sent Inglis to see President Roosevelt
to persuade him to direct the United States war effort primarily against the German air force in Europe. Inglis stayed in the White House and held two meetings with Roosevelt, eventually persuading the president to go against his own advisors and agree to the British viewpoint, that the major American war effort must be directed towards the defeat of Germany first.
According to Inglis's brother-in-law, Air Marshal Sir Victor Goddard
,
In October 1942, Inglis was promoted to assistant chief of the air staff (intelligence), with the military rank of (acting) air vice-marshal
, succeeding Air Vice-Marshal Charles Medhurst
, thus making him head of Air Intelligence.
(with Air Vice-Marshal Sir Thomas Elmhirst
succeeding him at RAF Intelligence).
On 20 January 1947, he was appointed senior air staff officer, HQ Air Command Far East and on 20 October 1949 as senior air staff officer, HQ Flying Training Command
. He reached the full rank of air vice-marshal on 1 July 1947.
He retired at his own request on 29 March 1952.
(CBE) on 8 June 1944 and Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath
(CB) on 1 January 1946.
In October 1945, he was conferred with the honour of Commander of the United States Legion of Merit
for "exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service". In 1946, he was also conferred with the honour of Grand Officer of the Order of the Phoenix by the King of Greece.
In July 1957, he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant
of the county of Kent
.
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...
Francis "Frank" Frederic Inglis CB
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...
, CBE
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...
(22 June 1899 – 25 September 1969) was a British officer in 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...
who became the head of RAF Intelligence
RAF Intelligence
Intelligence services in the Royal Air Force is delivered by Officers of the Royal Air Force Operations Support Intelligence Branch and Airmen from the Intelligence Analyst Trade and Intelligence Analyst Trade...
Staff during World War II reporting to Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. In 1942 he was sent to America by Churchill, where he successfully persuaded President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to direct the main American war effort against Germany rather than Japan.
Family and early life
Inglis was the fourth child of Alfred Markham Inglis (1856–1919) (a banker who had previously played cricket for KentKent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
) and Ernestine (Nina) May Pigou (1863–1941). His grandparents were Major-General Sir John Eardley Inglis
John Eardley Inglis
Major-General Sir John Eardley Wilmot Inglis , was a British Army officer.He was born in Nova Scotia, the son of John Inglis, the third bishop of that colony. In 1833 he joined the 32nd Foot, in which all his regimental service was passed...
and Lady Julia Inglis, who had survived the Siege of Lucknow
Siege of Lucknow
The Siege of Lucknow was the prolonged defense of the Residency within the city of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After two successive relief attempts had reached the city, the defenders and civilians were evacuated from the Residency, which was abandoned.Lucknow was the capital of...
, and Francis Pigou
Francis Pigou
The Very Rev Francis Pigou , DD was an eminent Anglican priest in the second half of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th.-Career:...
, the Dean of Bristol. His sister, Mildred Inglis (1897–1979), was married to (Sir) Victor Goddard
Victor Goddard
Air Marshal Sir Robert Victor Goddard KCB, CBE usually Victor Goddard, was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during World War II. He is best known as a protagonist in the 1946 aviation incident immortalized in the 1955 film The Night My Number Came Up.-Early life:Goddard was born at...
(1897–1987) who was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during World War II.
Inglis was educated 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...
and graduated in 1918, from where he enlisted in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles....
.
In the summer of 1927, he married Vera Helen "Midge" Turner (b. 1906). They had three daughters:
- Wendy Inglis (born 16 May 1928), who married Wing Commander Peter William Helmore D.F.C., A.F.C. (son of Air Commodore William HelmoreWilliam HelmoreAir Commodore William Helmore Ph.D., M.S., F.C.S., F.R.Ae.S., CBE was an engineer who had a varied and distinguished career in scientific research with the Air Ministry and the Ministry of Aircraft Production during the Second World War, as a broadcaster, and for two years as Member of Parliament...
) - Diana Gillian "Jill" Inglis (born 15 June 1931), who married Jeremy Howard-WilliamsJeremy Howard-WilliamsJeremy Napier Howard-Williams D.F.C. was a Second World War fighter pilot who later wrote several books including what became the "classic account of the sail-maker's art".-Family and education:...
D.F.C., a former night fighter pilot - Julia Margaret Inglis (born 11 September 1940), who married The Reverend (Gerard) Christopher Morgan Miles
His cousin, John Inglis
John Gilchrist Inglis
Vice Admiral Sir John Gilchrist Thesiger "Tommy" Inglis KBE, CB was a British Royal Navy officer who became Head of Naval Intelligence. In this capacity, he attempted to cover-up the "Buster Crabb affair" in 1956....
was head of Naval Intelligence
Naval Intelligence Division
The Naval Intelligence Division was the intelligence arm of the British Admiralty before the establishment of a unified Defence Staff in 1965. It dealt with matters concerning British naval plans, with the collection of naval intelligence...
from 1954 to 1960.
Royal Air Force career
After graduating from Sandhurst, Inglis spent three years with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, reaching the rank of lieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, until July 1921, when he was seconded to the Royal Air Force as a 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...
. After 18 months at No. 5 Flying Training School, in December 1922 he joined No. 84 Squadron
No. 84 Squadron RAF
No. 84 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is at present a Search and Rescue Squadron based at RAF Akrotiri, it uses the Bell Griffin HAR.2 helicopter. It is currently part of the RAF's Search and Rescue Force-History:...
as a pilot, based in Iraq, flying DH.9As
Airco DH.9A
The Airco DH.9A was a British light bomber designed and first used shortly before the end of the First World War. Colloquially known as the "Ninak" , it served on in large numbers for the Royal Air Force following the end of the war, both at home and overseas, where it was used for colonial...
. In April 1925, he was on the staff of the RAF depot in Egypt, before joining No. 208 Squadron
No. 208 Squadron RAF
No 208 Squadron is at present a reserve unit of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Valley, Anglesey, Wales. It operates the BAe Hawk aircraft.-World War I:...
in January 1926. By now, Inglis had resigned his commission in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and had been appointed to a permanent commission in the rank of flying officer.
On 1 July 1927, Inglis 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"...
; he was immediately placed on half pay until the end of July, having recently got married.
On his return to active service, Inglis joined the staff at No 4 Apprentice's Wing, RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. It is currently commanded by Group Captain Dave Waddington...
. In April 1931, he transferred to the staff of the RAF College
Royal Air Force College Cranwell
The Royal Air Force College is the Royal Air Force training and education academy which provides initial training to all RAF personnel who are preparing to be commissioned officers. The College also provides initial training to aircrew cadets and is responsible for all RAF recruiting along with...
, until returning to Iraq in December 1933 as a member of the air staff, HQ Iraq Command
RAF Iraq Command
Iraq Command was the RAF commanded inter-service command in charge of British forces in Iraq in the 1920s and early 1930s, during the period of the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. It continued as British Forces in Iraq until 1941 when it was replaced by AHQ Iraq...
. In January 1936, he returned to England, and attended the RAF Staff College
RAF Staff College, Andover
The RAF Staff College at RAF Andover was the first Royal Air Force staff college to be established. Its role was the training of officers in the administrative, staff and policy apects of air force matters.-Foundation:...
at Andover
Andover
-Places:In the United Kingdom:* Andover, Hampshire, EnglandIn Canada:* Andover, New Brunswick* Perth-Andover, New BrunswickIn the United States:* Andover, California* Andover, Connecticut* Andover, Florida* Andover, Illinois* Andover, Iowa...
. He was 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 April 1936 and 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...
on 1 March 1939.
Intelligence career
In January 1937, he was appointed to the staff of the deputy directorate of IntelligenceRAF Intelligence
Intelligence services in the Royal Air Force is delivered by Officers of the Royal Air Force Operations Support Intelligence Branch and Airmen from the Intelligence Analyst Trade and Intelligence Analyst Trade...
, and promoted to deputy director of intelligence (3) (DDI3) in 1940. In this role, he was head of the German branch of air intelligence. He was promoted to the rank of 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...
in September 1941, 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 March 1942.
In March 1942, he was promoted to director of intelligence (operations), reporting direct to the prime minister, Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. Following the entry of the United States into the Second World War, Churchill sent Inglis to see President Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to persuade him to direct the United States war effort primarily against the German air force in Europe. Inglis stayed in the White House and held two meetings with Roosevelt, eventually persuading the president to go against his own advisors and agree to the British viewpoint, that the major American war effort must be directed towards the defeat of Germany first.
According to Inglis's brother-in-law, Air Marshal Sir Victor Goddard
Victor Goddard
Air Marshal Sir Robert Victor Goddard KCB, CBE usually Victor Goddard, was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during World War II. He is best known as a protagonist in the 1946 aviation incident immortalized in the 1955 film The Night My Number Came Up.-Early life:Goddard was born at...
,
No other war decision by America was more significant for Europe and the World than that one. It is to be attributed to the clear trustworthiness of Frank Inglis that his vital, single-handed mission was successful, and it is to be attributed to his modesty that his part in that happening seems never to have come to the notice of historians.
In October 1942, Inglis was promoted to assistant chief of the air staff (intelligence), with the military rank of (acting) air vice-marshal
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...
, succeeding Air Vice-Marshal Charles Medhurst
Charles Medhurst
Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Edward Hastings Medhurst KCB OBE MC was a First World War Royal Flying Corps pilot on the Western Front and later a senior officer in the Royal Air Force.-RAF career:...
, thus making him head of Air Intelligence.
Later career
At the end of the war, in August 1945, he was appointed air officer commanding, No.23 Group, Flying Training CommandRAF Flying Training Command
Flying Training Command was an organization within the Royal Air Force which controlled units responsible for delivering flying training. The command's headquarters were at Shinfield Park, Reading in Berkshire.-History:...
(with Air Vice-Marshal Sir Thomas Elmhirst
Thomas Elmhirst
Air Marshal Sir Thomas Walker Elmhirst KBE, CB, AFC, DL, RAF was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in the first half of the 20th century and the first commander-in-chief of the newly independent Indian Air Force where he organised the funeral of Mahatma Gandhi following his assassination...
succeeding him at RAF Intelligence).
On 20 January 1947, he was appointed senior air staff officer, HQ Air Command Far East and on 20 October 1949 as senior air staff officer, HQ Flying Training Command
RAF Flying Training Command
Flying Training Command was an organization within the Royal Air Force which controlled units responsible for delivering flying training. The command's headquarters were at Shinfield Park, Reading in Berkshire.-History:...
. He reached the full rank of air vice-marshal on 1 July 1947.
He retired at his own request on 29 March 1952.
Honours
Air Vice-Marshal Inglis was appointed Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder 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...
(CBE) on 8 June 1944 and Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath
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...
(CB) on 1 January 1946.
In October 1945, he was conferred with the honour of Commander of the United States Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The 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...
for "exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service". In 1946, he was also conferred with the honour of Grand Officer of the Order of the Phoenix by the King of Greece.
In July 1957, he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of the county of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
.
