Denis Spotswood
| Sir Denis Frank Spotswood | |
|---|---|
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Denis Spotswood
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| Born |
26 September 1916 Lewisham, London |
| Died | 11 November 2001 (aged 85) Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1936–74 |
| Rank | Marshal of the Royal Air Force |
| Commands held |
Chief 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/wars | Second World War |
| Awards |
Knight 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 Force Sir Denis Frank Spotswood, GCB, CBE, DSO, DFC (26 September 1916 – 11 November 2001) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force. He fought in the Second World War as a flying boat pilot and then as a coastal reconnaissance squadron commander during Operation 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 the Chief of the Air Staff in the early 1970s he had a major role in implementing the defence savings demanded by the Heath Government in the face of economic difficulties at the time.
The son of Frank Henry Spotswood and Maud Caroline Spotswood (née Booth), Spotswood was educated at Kingston Grammar School before joining the Evening Standard as a trainee journalist in 1932. He decided to change career and joined the Royal Air Force, being commissioned as an acting pilot officer on 14 April 1936 and, after completing flying training, he was confirmed in the appointment on 6 January 1937. He was posted to No. 220 Squadron flying Ansons from RAF Bircham Newton in 1936 in January 1937 and then transferred to No. 201 Squadron flying Southampton flying boats from RAF Calshot in October 1937 and then to No. 209 Squadron flying Singapore and Stranraer flying boats from RAF Invergordon in February 1938.
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