Robert Saundby
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Air Marshal Sir Robert Henry Magnus Saundby MC KCB (26 April 1896 - 25 September 1971) was an RAF officer whose career spanned both World War I and World War II. He is chiefly remembered for his role as Deputy AOC in C Bomber Command under Sir Arthur 'Bomber' Harris during the latter part of World War II.
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[edit] Early Years
Robert Saundby, the son of Professor Robert Saundby left school in 1913 and joined the Traffic Department of the London and North Western Railway. He joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Territorial Force at the outbreak of war in 1914 as a private soldier. Upon completing Officer training in June 1915, he spent time at the front line until January 1916 when he joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), becoming a qualified pilot with the rank of flying officer, and joining No 24 Sqn RFC, under the famous Major Lanoe Hawker VC flying the Airco DH2 on the Western Front. He distinguished himself gaining five victories, and was present during the air battle when Hawker was finally shot down and killed by Baron Manfred Von Richtofen - The Red Baron himself.
By 1917 he was at Orford Ness RFC Experimental Station, England, and on 20 February 1917 he became a Flight Commander, No 11 Training Squadron RFC Scampton.[citation needed] He ended the war in this role. On 17 June 1917 he was flying one of three aircraft of 37 Squadron RFC that intercepted the Zeppelin L48 after she got lost trying to bomb London. Although he set it afire the kill went to L.P. Watkins in a BE.12 [1]
[edit] The Inter-War Years
Between 1919 and 1925, Robert Saundby moved slowly through the ranks of the newly formed RAF, whilst gaining experience of command.
His move towards the upper command ranks of the RAF was initiated when he joined No 58 Squadron as a Flight Commander on the 15 Oct 1926 flying the Vickers Virginia at RAF Worthy Down. His Squadron Commander was Wing-Commander Arthur Harris, and the Squadron concentrated on developing night bombing techniques such as target-marking in their 70 mph machines. The other squadron at Worthy Down at the time, No 7, was commanded by Wing-Commander Portal, later to become Chief of Air Staff during World War II and the direct superior and sometimes opponent of Harris.
After one year, Saundby attended RAF Staff College, camberley and became an RAF Staff Officer, becoming Deputy Director of Operations in 1937.
[edit] World War II
By 1940, Saundby had become Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO), HQ Bomber Command. He served under Air Marshal Richard Peirse and then became Deputy AOC in C under Harris in 1943. He was a supporter of the strategy of area bombing and he very much became a right-hand man for Harris throughout the remainder of the war. He retired on medical grounds from the RAF on 22 March 1946.
[edit] Retirement
He devoted much of his retirement to his role as Vice-Chairman, Council of Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association, for which he was awarded his KCB. He had many hobbies, and wrote several books on differing subjects including his role in the RAF during the war (Air Bombardment, The Story of its Development, How the Bomber and the Missile Brought the Third Dimension to Warfare) and Steam Engines (Early British Steam 1825-1925 The First 100 Years). He died on 25 September 1971
