Donald Randell Evans
| Sir Donald Evans | |
|---|---|
| Born |
31 January 1912 Richmond, Surrey |
| Died | 9 April 1975 (aged 63) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1930–1970 |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Commands held |
Imperial Defence College (1968–70) Air Secretary (1966–67) Technical Training Command (1964–66) School of Land/Air Warfare (1959–61) Telecommunications Flying Unit (1946–48) Fighter Interception Unit (1941–42) |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards |
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Flying Cross Mentioned in Despatches (2) Bronze Star (United States) |
Air Chief Marshal Sir Donald Randell Evans KBE, CB, DFC (31 January 1912 – 9 April 1975) was a senior Royal Air Force commander who was an innovator in night fighting tactics in the Second World War and conducted the signals planning for the Sicily and Normandy invasions.
Born the son of Colonel Percy Evans, who had been Assistant Director Medical Services for the British Expeditionary Forces (1915–1917), Evans was educated at Wellington College before entering the RAF College Cranwell in 1930 where he won the Humanities Prize.
Following service in the Middle East, Evans joined RAF Fighter Command where he was a signals officer at the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1941, he was given command of the Fighter Interception Unit at Ford and was responsible for introducing successful new tactics. He personally shot down two enemy fighters and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1942. At the age of thirty, he was promoted to group captain and went to Headquarters No. 11 (Fighter) Group in charge of night operations. In 1943, he was posted to the Mediterranean where he undertook the air side of signals planning for the Sicily invasion. Later he performed similar duties in the Allied Expeditionary Air Force for the Normandy landings.
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