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Michael Graydon

Sir Michael James Graydon
Born (1938-10-24) 24 October 1938 (age 78)
Kew, Surrey
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Air Force
Years of service 1957–97
Rank Air Chief Marshal
Commands held Chief of the Air Staff (1992–97)
RAF Strike Command (1991–92)
RAF Support Command (1989–91)
RAF Stanley (1983–84)
RAF Leuchars (1981–83)
No. 11 Squadron (1977–79)
Battles/wars Gulf War
Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael James Graydon, GCB, CBE (born 24 October 1938) is a retired Royal Air Force (RAF) officer. He was a fast jet pilot in the 1960s, a squadron commander in the 1970s and a station commander in the 1980s before serving as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Strike Command during the Gulf War. He was Chief of the Air Staff from 1992 to 1997 in which role he advised the British Government on the implementation of No Fly Zones in Iraq and Bosnia and implemented the Front Line First initiative.

The son of James Julian Graydon and Rita Mary Graydon (née Alkan), Graydon was educated at Wycliffe College, in the town of Stonehouse in Gloucestershire, and became a flight cadet at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in January 1957 before being commissioned into the Royal Air Force on 15 December 1959. His potential as a flying instructor was noticed early in his career and, after completing his Qualified Flying Instructor course at the Central Flying School, he was posted to No. 1 Flying Training School at RAF Linton-on-Ouse in Yorkshire in 1960. Promoted to flying officer on 15 December 1960, he attended No. 229 Operational conversion unit where he gained experience on the Hunters before being sent to No. 56 Squadron at RAF Wattisham, from where he flew Lightnings, in 1962.


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