Geoffrey Ambler
Encyclopedia
Air Vice Marshal Geoffrey Hill Ambler CB
, CBE
, AFC
(23 June 1904 – 26 August 1978) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force
during World War II
. Ambler served as the third Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps
, the first serving RAF officer to hold the appointment as his predecessors were retired Air Commodores.
In 1931 he joined the Auxiliary Air Force and served as a pilot on No. 608 Squadron (North Riding) Squadron Aux AF
in his spare time and in the ranks of Pilot Officer
(7 February 1931), Flying Officer
(7 August 1932) and Flight Lieutenant
(25 November 1933). On 30 December 1934 he was promoted further to Squadron Leader
and appointed Officer Commanding of No 608 (North Riding) Squadron Aux AF.
In 1938, still a Squadron Leader, Ambler transferred to No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron Aux AF
as 609's Officer Commanding. This auxiliary appointment was short-lived and with World War II having only started a few months previously, Ambler was promoted to Acting Wing Commander
and took up duties as the Operations Controller at RAF Wick in December 1939. His confirmation in the rank came on 1 January 1940 and he was promoted to Group Captain
a year later in December 1941.
and appointed as the third Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps
, replacing Air Commodore Drummond Warrington-Morris
. During his time in command he oversaw the reorganization of the Corps' headquarters and the subordinate area headquarters.
Ambler also aligned each ROC area's territory to that of its associated Fighter Command
group
for more cohesive interception of enemy aircraft.
Ambler handed over command to Air Commodore Finlay Crerar in June 1943.
to an appointment as the Deputy Senior Air Staff Officer (DSASO) of RAF Fighter Command
and then the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) on 1 February 1945 in the rank of Acting Air Vice-Marshal
.
Between August 1943 and October 1944 Ambler was an Aide de Camp to King George VI
In October 1947 Ambler was appointed as an Honorary Air Commodore to No 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAuxAF, an appointment he held until March 1957. He was awarded a similar honour with No 2609 (West Riding) Field Squadron RAuxAF Regiment between November 1949 and March 1957. In November 1949 he was appointed Honorary Air Commodore with No 3609 (West Riding) Fighter Control Unit, a position he held until January 1961.
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...
, 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"...
(23 June 1904 – 26 August 1978) was a senior 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...
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...
. Ambler served as the third Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps
Royal Observer Corps
The Royal Observer Corps was a civil defence organisation operating in the United Kingdom between 29 October 1925 and 31 December 1995, when the Corps' civilian volunteers were stood down....
, the first serving RAF officer to hold the appointment as his predecessors were retired Air Commodores.
Early days
Ambler was born in 1904 and educated at Cambridge University. He worked in the family firm of Fred Ambler Limited in Bradford, Yorkshire and during his time with the company he invented a method which increased the speed at which worsted yarn might be produced.In 1931 he joined the Auxiliary Air Force and served as a pilot on No. 608 Squadron (North Riding) Squadron Aux AF
No. 608 Squadron RAF
No. 608 Squadron was an Auxiliary Air Force squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II. It flew during its existence as a bomber, fighter and reconnaissance unit and was the only RAF squadron to be equipped with the unsuccessful Blackburn Botha torpedo bomber.-Formation and early years:...
in his spare time and in the ranks of 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...
(7 February 1931), 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...
(7 August 1932) and 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"...
(25 November 1933). On 30 December 1934 he was promoted further 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...
and appointed Officer Commanding of No 608 (North Riding) Squadron Aux AF.
In 1938, still a Squadron Leader, Ambler transferred to No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron Aux AF
No. 609 Squadron RAF
No. 609 Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, originally formed as a bomber squadron and in World War II active as fighter squadron, nowadays provides personnel to augment and support the operations of the Royal Air Force. The squadron is no longer a flying Squadron, but instead has the role...
as 609's Officer Commanding. This auxiliary appointment was short-lived and with World War II having only started a few months previously, Ambler was promoted to Acting 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 took up duties as the Operations Controller at RAF Wick in December 1939. His confirmation in the rank came on 1 January 1940 and 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...
a year later in December 1941.
Royal Observer Corps
In June 1942, Ambler was promoted to Acting Air CommodoreAir Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
and appointed as the third Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps
Royal Observer Corps
The Royal Observer Corps was a civil defence organisation operating in the United Kingdom between 29 October 1925 and 31 December 1995, when the Corps' civilian volunteers were stood down....
, replacing Air Commodore Drummond Warrington-Morris
Alfred Warrington-Morris
Air Commodore Alfred Drummond Warrington-Morris CB CMG OBE AFC RAF was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during the first half of the 20th century....
. During his time in command he oversaw the reorganization of the Corps' headquarters and the subordinate area headquarters.
Ambler also aligned each ROC area's territory to that of its associated Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...
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...
for more cohesive interception of enemy aircraft.
Ambler handed over command to Air Commodore Finlay Crerar in June 1943.
Return to RAF duties
With his rank as an Air Commodore confirmed Ambler moved across the road at RAF Bentley PrioryRAF Bentley Priory
RAF Bentley Priory was a non-flying Royal Air Force station near Stanmore in the London Borough of Harrow. It was famous as the headquarters of Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain and the Second World War. The RAF Bentley Priory site includes a Grade II* listed Officers' Mess and Italian...
to an appointment as the Deputy Senior Air Staff Officer (DSASO) of RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...
and then the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) on 1 February 1945 in the 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...
.
Between August 1943 and October 1944 Ambler was an Aide de Camp to King George VI
Retirement from the RAF
He retired from the RAF after the end of World War II in August 1945 and returned to work at Fred Ambler Limited. He eventually became chairman of the company.In October 1947 Ambler was appointed as an Honorary Air Commodore to No 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAuxAF, an appointment he held until March 1957. He was awarded a similar honour with No 2609 (West Riding) Field Squadron RAuxAF Regiment between November 1949 and March 1957. In November 1949 he was appointed Honorary Air Commodore with No 3609 (West Riding) Fighter Control Unit, a position he held until January 1961.