Vincent Orange (historian)
Encyclopedia
Dr George Vincent Orange, (born in 1935 and known as "Vincent") is a British
-born New Zealand
historian
, best known for his military biographies of RAF commanders John Slessor
, Hugh Dowding
, Keith Park
and Arthur Tedder
. These received positive reviews, with British historian Sebastian Ritchie, for example, describing the Tedder biography as a "very important" book with an "eminently balanced narrative".
, County Durham
and was educated at St. Mary's Grammar School, in Darlington
, and at Hull University. Orange served in the Royal Air Force
from 1953 to 1956.
In 1962 he went to live in New Zealand
and taught History at the University of Canterbury
in Christchurch
until he retired in 2002. His influence as an air power scholar is well known. His former students include prominent United Kingdom scholars Dr Joel Hayward
and Dr Christina Goulter
as well as Dr Adam Claasen of Massey University
and Dr Andrew Conway of King's College London
.
Orange is married to Sandra, and has a stepdaughter Sarah.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-born New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, best known for his military biographies of RAF commanders John Slessor
John Slessor
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Cotesworth Slessor GCB, DSO, MC was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force . A pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I, he held operational commands in World War II and served in the RAF's most senior post, Chief of the Air Staff, from 1950 to...
, Hugh Dowding
Hugh Dowding, 1st Baron Dowding
Air Chief Marshal Hugh Caswall Tremenheere Dowding, 1st Baron Dowding GCB, GCVO, CMG was a British officer in the Royal Air Force...
, Keith Park
Keith Park
Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Rodney Park GCB, KBE, MC & Bar, DFC, RAF was a New Zealand soldier, First World War flying ace and Second World War Royal Air Force commander...
and Arthur Tedder
Arthur Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Arthur William Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder, GCB was a senior British air force commander. During the First World War, he was a pilot and squadron commander in the Royal Flying Corps and he went on to serve as a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during the inter-war...
. These received positive reviews, with British historian Sebastian Ritchie, for example, describing the Tedder biography as a "very important" book with an "eminently balanced narrative".
Biography
Orange was born in 1935, in ShildonShildon
Shildon is a town in County Durham, in England. It is situated 2 miles to the south east of Bishop Auckland and 11 miles north of Darlington. It is 13 miles away from Durham, 23 miles from Sunderland and 23 miles from Newcastle-upon-Tyne...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
and was educated at St. Mary's Grammar School, in Darlington
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
, and at Hull University. Orange served 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...
from 1953 to 1956.
In 1962 he went to live in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and taught History at the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
until he retired in 2002. His influence as an air power scholar is well known. His former students include prominent United Kingdom scholars Dr Joel Hayward
Joel Hayward
Joel S.A. Hayward , is a New Zealand-born "noted scholar of war and strategy" who has worked in the United Kingdom since 2004.He is best known for his published books and articles on military matters, including the use of air power, his 2003 biography of Horatio Lord Nelson, and his writing and...
and Dr Christina Goulter
Christina Goulter
Dr Christina Goulter is a New Zealand-born and educated British military historian who is currently a senior lecturer in the Defence Studies Department of King's College London...
as well as Dr Adam Claasen of Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
and Dr Andrew Conway of King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
.
Orange is married to Sandra, and has a stepdaughter Sarah.
Acting
In his younger days, Dr Orange had parts in 20 stage plays and 50 radio plays. He also appeared regularly on television, commenting on current affairs.Articles
Among Orange's many peer reviewed articles is:"Cutting through the Political Jungle: Eisenhower and Tedder as Allies and Friends, 1942-1945." Air Power Review Vol. 3 No. 4 (Winter 2000), pp. 75–86.Books
Orange has published eight books, and numerous articles and conference papers including:- Dowding of Fighter Command: Victor of the Battle of Britain, (Grub Street Pub, Sep 2008)
- Johnny Checketts: The Road to Biggin Hill, (Grub Street; New title edition, Mar 2007)
- Slessor: Bomber Champion - The Life of Sir John Slessor, (Grub Street Pub, Oct 2006)
- Tedder: Quietly in Command, (Routledge Pub, Apr 2004)
- Winged Promises: History of No.14 Squadron, RAF 1915-1945, (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, Nov 1998)
- Ensor's Endeavour: A Biography of Wing Commander Mick Ensor, (Grub Street, May 1994)
- Straight and Level, (Grub Street, Oct 1993) with Kenneth Cross
- Coningham: A Biography of Sir Arthur Coningham, (Methuen Publishing Ltd, Feb 1990)
- The Road to Biggin Hill, (Airlife Publishing Ltd, Feb 1987)
- Park: The Biography of Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park, (Methuen Publishing, Aug 1984)