Inspector-General of the RAF
Encyclopedia
The Inspector-General of the RAF was a senior appointment in the Royal Air Force
, responsible for the inspection of airfields. The post existed from 1918 to 1920 and from 1935 until the late 1960s.
The first creation of the post began on 22 August 1918 as a member of the Air Council
. However, in February or March of the following year, the Inspector-General ceased to sit on the Air Council.
From May 1940 to November 1943, a second inspector-general was appointed in addition to Ludlow-Hewitt who continued to serve. The additional inspectors-general were
After November 1943, Ludlow-Hewitt remained as the only inspector-general until he handed over to Sir Arthur Barratt in October 1945.
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...
, responsible for the inspection of airfields. The post existed from 1918 to 1920 and from 1935 until the late 1960s.
The first creation of the post began on 22 August 1918 as a member of the Air Council
Air Council
Air Council was the governing body of the Royal Air Force until the merger of the Air Ministry with the other armed forces ministries to form the Ministry of Defence. It was succeeded by the Air Force Board.- Composition :...
. However, in February or March of the following year, the Inspector-General ceased to sit on the Air Council.
Inspectors-general
The following people served as Inspector-General of the RAF:- 22 August 1918 Major GeneralMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Sir Godfrey PaineGodfrey PaineRear Admiral Sir Godfrey Marshall Paine KCB MVO was a senior commander in the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Air Force in the early part of the 20th century...
(Air Vice-MarshalAir Vice-MarshalAir 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...
from 1 August 1919) - 1920 to 1935 - Post Abolished
- 1 August 1935 Air Chief MarshalAir Chief MarshalAir chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir Robert Brooke-PophamRobert Brooke-PophamAir Chief Marshal Sir Henry Robert Moore Brooke-Popham, GCVO, KCB, CMG, DSO, AFC, was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force. During World War I he served in the Royal Flying Corps as wing commander and senior staff officer... - 1 September 1937 Marshal of the Royal Air ForceMarshal of the Royal Air ForceMarshal of the Royal Air Force is the highest rank in the Royal Air Force. In peacetime it was granted to RAF officers in the appointment of Chief of the Defence Staff, and to retired Chiefs of the Air Staff, who were promoted to it on their last day of service. Promotions to the rank have ceased...
Sir Edward EllingtonEdward Leonard EllingtonMarshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Edward Leonard Ellington GCB, CMG, CBE was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force... - 1 July 1939 Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles BurnettCharles Burnett (RAF officer)Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Stuart Burnett KCB, CBE, DSO was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the first half of the 20th century. During the Second World War, he served as Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Australian Air Force.-Early life:Charles Burnett was born in Browns...
- 15 January 1940 Air Marshal Sir Leslie GossageLeslie GossageAir Marshal Sir Ernest Leslie Gossage KCB, CVO, DSO, MC . He was a former artillery officer who become a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps and later a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War...
- 14 April 1940 Air Chief Marshal Sir Edgar Ludlow-HewittEdgar Ludlow-HewittAir Chief Marshal Sir Edgar Rainey Ludlow-Hewitt GCB, GBE, CMG, DSO, MC, DL was a senior Royal Air Force commander.-World War I:...
From May 1940 to November 1943, a second inspector-general was appointed in addition to Ludlow-Hewitt who continued to serve. The additional inspectors-general were
- 24 May 1940 Air Marshal Sir William MitchellWilliam Mitchell (RAF officer)Air Chief Marshal Sir William Gore Sutherland Mitchell, KCB, CBE, DSO, MC, AFC was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force and the first RAF officer to hold the post of Black Rod.-RAF career:...
- 1 June 1941 Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur LongmoreArthur LongmoreAir Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Murray Longmore GCB, DSO was an early naval aviator, before reaching high rank in the Royal Air Force.-Biography:...
- 1943 Air Chief Marshal Sir Philip Joubert de la FertéPhilip Joubert de la FertéAir Chief Marshal Sir Philip Bennet Joubert de la Ferté KCB, CMG, DSO was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the 1930s and the Second World War.-RAF career:...
After November 1943, Ludlow-Hewitt remained as the only inspector-general until he handed over to Sir Arthur Barratt in October 1945.
- 29 October 1945 Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur BarrattArthur BarrattAir Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Sheridan Barratt KCB CMG MC was an officer in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I and a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during World War II.-RAF career:...
- 17 January 1947 Air Chief Marshal Sir Norman BottomleyNorman BottomleyAir Chief Marshal Sir Norman Howard Bottomley KCB CIE DSO AFC RAF was the Yorkshire-born successor to Arthur 'Bomber' Harris as Commander-in-Chief of RAF Bomber Command in 1945.-RAF career:...
- 1 January 1948 Air Chief Marshal Sir George PirieGeorge Pirie (RAF officer)Air Chief Marshal Sir George Clark Pirie KCB KBE MC DFC LLD RAF was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during World War II and the immediate post-War years. During World War I Pirie initially served as an infantry officer before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps where he took up...
- 1 September 1948 Air Chief Marshal Sir Leslie HollinghurstLeslie Norman HollinghurstAir Chief Marshal Sir Leslie Norman Hollinghurst GBE, KCB, DFC , was a British First World War Flying Ace who later became an Air Chief Marshal in the RAF.-Involvement in the First World War:...
- 31 September 1949 Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh SaundersHugh SaundersAir Chief Marshal Sir Hugh William Lumsden Saunders GCB KBE MC DFC and Bar MM RAF was a South African who rose through the ranks to become a senior Royal Air Force commander.-RAF career:...
- 9 February 1951 Air Chief Marshal Sir James RobbJames Robb (RAF officer)Air Chief Marshal Sir James Milne Robb GCB, KBE, DSO, DFC, AFC, RAF, was a senior Royal Air Force commander. After early service in the First World War with the Northumberland Fusiliers, Robb joined the Royal Flying Corps and became a flying ace credited with seven aerial victories...
- 1 October 1951 Air Marshal Sir Thomas WilliamsThomas Williams (RAF officer)Air Marshal Sir Thomas Melling Williams KCB, OBE, MC, DFC & Bar, RAF was an ace pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I, scoring nine aerial victories...
- 1 October 1952 Air Marshal Sir Stephen StraffordStephen StraffordAir Marshal Stephen Charles Strafford CB, CBE, DFC, RAF was a pilot in the Royal Naval Air Service during World War I and a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during World War II and the following years.-RAF career:...
- 19 April 1954 Air Marshal Sir Charles GuestCharles GuestAir Marshal Sir Charles Edward Neville Guest KBE CB was a Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Transport Command.-RAF career:...
- 31 July 1956 Air Chief Marshal Sir Walter DawsonWalter Dawson (RAF officer)Air Chief Marshal Sir Walter Lloyd Dawson KCB CBE DSO RAF was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in the 1950s. He was the last RAF commander in Palestine, before the creation of the State of Israel.-RAF career:...
- 1 January 1958 Air Marshal Sir Gilbert NicholettsGilbert NicholettsAir Marshal Sir Gilbert Edward Nicholetts KBE CB AFC & Bar was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the 1950s.-RAF career:...
- 3 June 1959 Air Marshal Sir John WhitleyJohn Whitley (RAF officer)Air Marshal Sir John Rene Whitley KBE CB DSO AFC & Bar was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during World War II and also in the post-War years.-RAF career:...
- 1 June 1962 Air Marshal Sir Paterson FraserPaterson FraserAir Marshal The Reverend Sir Henry Paterson Fraser KBE CB AFC was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during World War II and also in the post-War years.-RAF career:...
- 15 August 1964 Air Chief Marshal Sir Augustus WalkerAugustus WalkerAir Chief Marshal Sir George Augustus Walker GCB CBE DSO DFC AFC MA was a Second World War bomber pilot and jet aircraft pioneer, later Inspector-General of the RAF and RAF Air Chief Marshal.-Early life:...
- 17 February 1967 Air Marshal Sir Reginald EmsonReginald EmsonAir Marshal Sir Reginald Herbert Embleton Emson KBE CB AFC was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in the post-War years.-RAF career:...