Richard Johns
Encyclopedia
Air Chief Marshal
Sir Richard Edward Johns GCB
, KCVO
, CBE
(born 28 July 1939) is a retired Royal Air Force
officer and former Chief of the Air Staff.
and Gloster Meteor
s. Johns went on to fly Hunters
in Aden
. He also became a Qualified Flying Instructor and, notably, he trained the Prince of Wales
to wings standard on the Jet Provost
.
In 1982 he became Station Commander and Harrier Force Commander at RAF Gütersloh
and it was towards the end of the year when he received the honorary appointment of Aide-de-Camp
to the Queen. Following various other appointments he went on to take up the appointment of Air Officer Commanding
No 1 Group
in 1991. It was also in 1991 that Johns served as one of three British directors of operations on the senior planning staff for Operation Granby
(the British contribution to the Gulf War
). Johns's next appointment was in 1993 as Deputy Commander-in-Chief
RAF Strike Command
. Johns was appointed Commander-in-Chief
Strike Command
on 30 June 1994. However, less than two weeks later, Sir John Thomson who had just been appointed Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces North West Europe died and Johns was posted from Strike Command to the NATO command where he served as Commander-in-Chief until 1997.
He was Chief of the Air Staff from 1997 to April 2000 when he retired from the RAF.
and Governor
of Windsor Castle
from 2000 to 1 February 2008. He was succeeded in this post by Surgeon Vice Admiral Ian Jenkins
, CB
, CVO
.
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Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir Richard Edward Johns GCB
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...
, 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
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...
(born 28 July 1939) is a retired 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 and former Chief of the Air Staff.
RAF career
Educated at Portsmouth Grammar School and RAF College Cranwell, Johns was commissioned in 1959. He underwent flying training on Piston ProvostsBAC Jet Provost
The BAC Jet Provost was a British jet-powered trainer aircraft used by the Royal Air Force from 1955 to 1993. The Jet Provost was also successfully exported, serving in many air forces worldwide....
and Gloster Meteor
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
s. Johns went on to fly Hunters
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
in Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
. He also became a Qualified Flying Instructor and, notably, he trained the Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
to wings standard on the Jet Provost
BAC Jet Provost
The BAC Jet Provost was a British jet-powered trainer aircraft used by the Royal Air Force from 1955 to 1993. The Jet Provost was also successfully exported, serving in many air forces worldwide....
.
In 1982 he became Station Commander and Harrier Force Commander at RAF Gütersloh
RAF Gütersloh
The former Royal Air Force Station Gütersloh, more commonly known as RAF Gütersloh, was a Royal Air Force Germany military airbase, the nearest Royal Air Force airbase to the East/West German border, in the vicinity of the town of Gütersloh. It was constructed by the Germans prior to World War II...
and it was towards the end of the year when he received the honorary appointment of Aide-de-Camp
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. Following various other appointments he went on to take up the appointment of 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 1 Group
No. 1 Group RAF
Number 1 Group of the Royal Air Force is one of the two operations groups in Air Command.The group is today referred to as the Air Combat Group, as it controls the RAF's combat fast-jet aircraft and has airfields in the UK plus RAF Unit Goose Bay in Canada, which is used extensively as an...
in 1991. It was also in 1991 that Johns served as one of three British directors of operations on the senior planning staff for Operation Granby
Operation Granby
Operation Granby was the name given to the British military operations during the Gulf War. 53,462 troops were deployed during the conflict. The total cost of operations was £2.434 billion of which at least £2.049 billion was paid for by other nations such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia; £200...
(the British contribution to the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
). Johns's next appointment was in 1993 as Deputy Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
RAF Strike Command
RAF Strike Command
The Royal Air Force's Strike Command was the military formation which controlled the majority of the United Kingdom's bomber and fighter aircraft from 1968 until 2007: it was merged with Personnel and Training Command to form the single Air Command. It latterly consisted of two formations - No. 1...
. Johns was appointed Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
Strike Command
RAF Strike Command
The Royal Air Force's Strike Command was the military formation which controlled the majority of the United Kingdom's bomber and fighter aircraft from 1968 until 2007: it was merged with Personnel and Training Command to form the single Air Command. It latterly consisted of two formations - No. 1...
on 30 June 1994. However, less than two weeks later, Sir John Thomson who had just been appointed Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces North West Europe died and Johns was posted from Strike Command to the NATO command where he served as Commander-in-Chief until 1997.
He was Chief of the Air Staff from 1997 to April 2000 when he retired from the RAF.
Later work
He was ConstableConstable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
and Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
from 2000 to 1 February 2008. He was succeeded in this post by Surgeon Vice Admiral Ian Jenkins
Ian L. Jenkins
Surgeon Vice Admiral Ian Laurence Jenkins CB, CVO was a Royal Navy medical officer and former Surgeon General of the British Armed Forces.- Career :...
, 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...
, CVO
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...
.
Honours and awards
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Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) | |
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Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) | |
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Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) | |
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General Service Medal General Service Medal (1962) The General Service Medal , was introduced in 1962 to combine the General Service Medal , as awarded to the Army and RAF, and the Naval General Service Medal... |
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Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 1977 to mark the 25th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II... |
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Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II... |
Further reading
- Goodall, Ray, Wing Commander et al. (2000). Air Power. Disc 1, CD-ROM. Royal Air Force.
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