John Day (RAF officer)

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Air Chief Marshal Sir John Day, KCB, OBE, ADC, B.Sc, RAF is a retired senior Royal Air Force commander and a military advisor to BAE Systems.

[edit] Early life and education

John Day was born in England in 1947, however during the first nine years of his life, he spent a considerable amount of time in north east India where his father worked as a Tea Planter. He was educated at The King's School, Canterbury and at Imperial College London from where he graduated with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. During his time at Imperial, Day received an RAF sponsorship and he was a member of the London University Air Squadron.

[edit] RAF Career

Following initial officer training and flying training, Day was posted to RAF Odiham flying the Wessex helicopter. He went on to command the Wessex Squadron in Northern Ireland and returned to Odiham as Station Commander.

Later in his career, Day was Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Commitments) and the Director of Operations for all the United Kingdom's operations (including the Kosovo campaign and operations over Iraq).

In 2000, Day was appointed Air Member for Personnel and Commander-in-Chief Personnel and Training Command. In 2001, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief Strike Command. He then retired from the Royal Air Force in 2003 and joined BAE Systems as their Senior Military Adviser.

[edit] Chinook helicopter crash Board of Inquiry

In 1995, following the Chinook Helicopter Crash on the Mull of Kintyre, Air Vice Marshal Day was a member of the Board of Inquiry which, to the consternation of some military aircrew, concluded that pilot error was the cause of the crash and found the pilots guilty of gross negligence. It is rumoured the controversy surrounding the affair prevented Day from being appointed Chief of the Air Staff ^{[citation needed]}.

Military Offices
Preceded by P T Squire	Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group 1993–1997	Succeeded by G E Stirrup
Preceded by Sir Anthony Bagnall	Commander-in-Chief Personnel and Training Command Air Member for Personnel 2000–2001	Succeeded by Sir Christopher Coville
Preceded by Sir Anthony Bagnall	Commander-in-Chief Strike Command 2001–2003	Succeeded by Sir Brian Burridge