John Grandy

Sir John Grandy
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Grandy
Born	(1913-02-08)8 February 1913 Northwood, London
Died	2 January 2004(2004-01-02) (aged 90) Slough, Berkshire
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1931–71
Rank	Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Commands held	Chief of the Air Staff (1967–71) Far East Command (1965–67) Bomber Command (1963–65) RAF Germany (1961–63) Central Fighter Establishment (1954–56) Northern Sector of Fighter Command (1950–52) No. 341 Wing (1945) No. 73 Operational Training Unit (1944–45) No. 210 Group (1943) RAF Duxford (1942–43) No. 249 Squadron (1940) No. 219 Squadron (1940)
Battles/wars	Second World War Battle of Britain Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John Mentioned in Despatches (2) Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (Malaysia)
Other work	Governor of Gibraltar Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle

Second World War

Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Grandy, GCB, GCVO, KBE, DSO, KStJ (8 February 1913 – 2 January 2004) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force. He was the only officer who fought and commanded a squadron during the Battle of Britain to reach the post of Chief of the Air Staff. In the latter role he implemented the final stages of the RAF's withdrawal from the Persian Gulf and the Far East, oversaw the ordering and subsequent cancellation of the F-111 strike aircraft and handed over Britain's nuclear deterrent role to the Royal Navy.

The son of Francis Grandy and his wife, Nell Grandy (née Lines), Grandy was educated at Northwood Preparatory School and the University College School in London, and was commissioned into the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer on a probationary basis on 11 September 1931. After completing flying training, he was posted as a pilot to No. 54 Squadron flying Bulldogs from RAF Hornchurch in August 1932. He was confirmed in the rank of pilot officer on 11 September 1932 and promoted to flying officer on 11 June 1933. He became Adjutant of No. 604 (County of Middlesex) Squadron at RAF Hendon in April 1935 and attended the Instructors' Course at the Central Flying School in January 1936. He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 11 June 1936 and was posted to the University of London Air Squadron as Adjutant in January 1937.