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Denis Spotswood

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Marshal of the Royal Air Force

Sir Denis Spotswood
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Denis Spotswood
Born(1916-09-26)26 September 1916
Lewisham,London
Died11 November 2001(2001-11-11)(aged 85)
Henley-on-Thames,Oxfordshire
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1936–1974
RankMarshal of the Royal Air Force
CommandsChief of the Air Staff(1971–74)
RAF Strike Command(1968–71)
RAF Germany(1965–68)
No. 3 (Bomber) Group(1964–65)
RAF College Cranwell(1958–61)
RAF Linton-on-Ouse(1954–56)
RAF Coltishall(1948)
RAF Horsham St Faith(1947–48)
No. 500 Squadron(1942–43)
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross
Mentioned in Despatches(2)
Officer of the Legion of Merit(United States)

Marshal of the Royal Air ForceSir Denis Frank Spotswood,GCB,CBE,DSO,DFC(26 September 1916 – 11 November 2001) was a senior commander in theRoyal Air Force.He fought in theSecond World Waras a flying boat pilot and then as a coastalreconnaissancesquadron commander duringOperation Torch,the invasion of North Africa. He served as a station commander in the late 1940s and early 1950s before becoming a senior air commander in the late 1950s. As theChief of the Air Staffin the early 1970s he had a major role in implementing the defence savings demanded by theHeath Governmentin the face of economic difficulties at the time.

RAF career

[edit]

The son of Frank Henry Spotswood and Maud Caroline Spotswood (née Booth), Spotswood was educated atKingston Grammar School[1]before joining theEvening Standardas a trainee journalist in 1932.[2]He decided to change career and joined the Royal Air Force, being commissioned as an actingpilot officeron 14 April 1936[3]and, after completing flying training, he was confirmed in the appointment on 6 January 1937.[4]He was posted toNo. 220 SquadronflyingAnsonsfromRAF Bircham Newtonin 1936 in January 1937 and then transferred toNo. 201 SquadronflyingSouthamptonflying boats fromRAF Calshotin October 1937 and then toNo. 209 SquadronflyingSingaporeandStranraerflying boats fromRAF Invergordonin February 1938.[5]

Catalinaflying boat, a type flown by Spotswood during the Second World War

Spotswood served in theSecond World War,initially undertaking patrols of theWestern Approachesusing the newLerwickflying boats and then the newCatalinaflying boats of No. 209 Squadron.[2]He was promoted toflight lieutenanton 3 September 1940,[6]andmentioned in despatcheson 24 September 1941.[7]Promoted to the rank ofsquadron leaderon a temporary basis on 1 December 1941,[8]he became Officer CommandingNo. 500 SquadronflyingHudsoncoastalreconnaissanceaircraftfromRAF St Evalin April 1942.[9]Promoted to squadron leader on awar substantive basison 18 July 1942,[10]Spotswood and his squadron were deployed toGibraltarin November 1942 to take part inOperation Torch,the invasion of North Africa.[9]He was awarded theDistinguished Flying Crosson 10 November 1942.[11]

Spotswood joined the Air Staff in the Directorate of Operations at theAir Ministryin April 1943, before attending theRAF Staff College, Bulstrode Parkfor much of the remainder of the year.[5]He wasmentioned in despatchesagain on 2 June 1943[12]and awarded theDistinguished Service Orderon 28 September 1943.[13]He was appointed Director of Plans at the Headquarters of theSupreme Allied Commander South East Asiain February 1944[5]and became awing commanderon a temporary basis on 1 July 1944[14]and on a war substantive basis on 11 August 1944.[15]He was promoted tosquadron leaderon a permanent basis on 1 September 1945.[16]

Appointed aCommander of the Order of the British Empirein the1946 New Year Honours,[17]Spotswood joined the Directing Staff at theRAF Staff College, Bracknellin February 1946[5]and was promoted towing commanderon 1 July 1947.[18]After becoming Station Commander atRAF Horsham St Faithin December 1947 and then Station Commander atRAF Coltishallin January 1948,[5]he was made anOfficer of the Legion of Meritby thePresident of the United Stateson 9 March 1948.[19]

After attending the Air Defence Course at theSchool of Land/Air Warfareas well as the jet conversion course, Spotswood joined the Directing Staff at theImperial Defence Collegein March 1950.[5]He was sent on an exchange posting to the Tactical Operations Plans Branch at HeadquartersUnited States Air Forcein June 1952,[5]and having been promoted togroup captainon 1 January 1954,[20]he became Station Commander atRAF Linton-on-Ousein August 1954.[5]He went on to be deputy director of Plans at theAir Ministryin October 1956 and, having been appointedAide-de-Camptothe Queenon 18 June 1957,[21]he became Commandant at theRAF College Cranwellin August 1958.[5]He was promoted toair commodoreon 1 January 1960.[22]

Appointed aCompanion of the Order of the Bathin the1961 New Year Honours,[23]Spotswood became Assistant Chief of the Staff (Air Defence) atSHAPEin June 1961.[5]Promoted toair vice-marshalon 1 July 1961,[24]he became Chairman of the Pathfinder Study Group in November 1963, charged with determining the shape, size and cost of the RAF front line.[25]His main recommendation, which was implemented, was to mergeRAF Fighter CommandandRAF Bomber Commandto formRAF Strike Command.[25]He went on to beAir Officer CommandingNo. 3 Bomber Groupin August 1964[5]andCommander-in-ChiefRAF Germanyas well as Commander of theSecond Tactical Air Forceon 6 December 1965.[26]

Having been advanced toKnight Commander of the Order of the Bathin the1966 Birthday Honours[27]and been promoted toair marshalon 1 July 1966,[28]Spotswood becameCommander-in-ChiefRAF Strike Commandon 26 August 1968.[29]He was promoted toair chief marshalon 1 November 1968,[30]and appointedAir Aide-de-Campto the Queen on 7 July 1970.[31]Advanced toKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bathin the1971 New Year Honours,[32]he becameChief of the Air Staffon 1 April 1971.[33]As Chief of the Air Staff he had a major role in implementing the defence savings demanded by theHeath Governmentin the face of economic difficulties at the time.[34]Spotswood presentedPrince Charleswith his'wings'at the end of his flying training in August 1971.[5]Spotswood was promoted toMarshal of the Royal Air Forceon 31 March 1974[35]and retired on the same day.[5]

Later life

[edit]

In retirement Spotswood became Deputy Chairman ofRolls-Royce,a Director ofDowty Groupand then a Director ofSmiths Industries.[5]He also became Chairman of the Trustees of theRAF Museumand of the Royal Star and Garter Home.[36]He died ofcancerat Thamesfield Care Home inHenley-on-Thameson 11 November 2001.[1]

Personal life

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In July 1942 he married Margaret Ann Child; they had one son.[1]His interests included golf and gardening.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^abcd"Sir Denis Frank Spotswood".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.Retrieved9 June2012.
  2. ^abProbert, p. 70
  3. ^"No. 34274".The London Gazette.10 June 1948. p. 2457.
  4. ^"No. 34369".The London Gazette.10 June 1948. p. 895.
  5. ^abcdefghijklmn"Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Denis Spotswood".Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation.Retrieved9 June2012.
  6. ^"No. 34976".The London Gazette.22 October 1940. p. 6139.
  7. ^"No. 35284".The London Gazette(Supplement). 23 September 1941. p. 5571.
  8. ^"No. 35383".The London Gazette(Supplement). 16 December 1941. p. 7111.
  9. ^abProbert, p. 71
  10. ^"No. 35736".The London Gazette(Supplement). 6 October 1942. p. 4385.
  11. ^"No. 35777".The London Gazette(Supplement). 6 November 1942. p. 4868.
  12. ^"No. 36033".The London Gazette(Supplement). 28 May 1943. p. 2454.
  13. ^"No. 36187".The London Gazette(Supplement). 24 September 1943. p. 4307.
  14. ^"No. 36618".The London Gazette(Supplement). 18 July 1944. p. 3398.
  15. ^"No. 36701".The London Gazette(Supplement). 12 September 1944. p. 4262.
  16. ^"No. 37511".The London Gazette(Supplement). 22 March 1946. p. 1531.
  17. ^"New Year Honours".Flight Global. 10 January 1946.Retrieved9 June2012.
  18. ^"No. 38020".The London Gazette(Supplement). 18 July 1947. p. 3419.
  19. ^"No. 38231".The London Gazette(Supplement). 5 March 1948. p. 1743.
  20. ^"No. 40061".The London Gazette(Supplement). 29 December 1953. p. 63.
  21. ^"No. 41103".The London Gazette(Supplement). 14 June 1957. p. 3657.
  22. ^"No. 41915".The London Gazette(Supplement). 29 December 1959. p. 67.
  23. ^"No. 42231".The London Gazette(Supplement). 27 December 1960. p. 8891.
  24. ^"No. 42403".The London Gazette(Supplement). 30 June 1961. p. 4931.
  25. ^abProbert, p. 72
  26. ^"No. 43833".The London Gazette(Supplement). 3 December 1965. p. 11443.
  27. ^"No. 44004".The London Gazette(Supplement). 3 June 1966. p. 6531.
  28. ^"No. 44039".The London Gazette(Supplement). 30 June 1966. p. 7465.
  29. ^"No. 44661".The London Gazette(Supplement). 27 August 1968. p. 9352.
  30. ^"No. 44704".The London Gazette(Supplement). 25 October 1968. p. 11586.
  31. ^"No. 45174".The London Gazette(Supplement). 14 August 1970. p. 9164.
  32. ^"No. 45262".The London Gazette(Supplement). 31 December 1970. p. 3.
  33. ^"No. 45337".The London Gazette(Supplement). 5 April 1971. p. 3340.
  34. ^Probert, p. 73
  35. ^"No. 46252".The London Gazette(Supplement). 1 April 1974. p. 4287.
  36. ^Probert, p. 74

Sources

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Military offices
Preceded by Commander-in-ChiefRAF Germany
Also Commander of theSecond Tactical Air Force
1965–1968 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-ChiefStrike Command
1968–1971 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of the Air Staff
1971–1974
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