David Craig, Baron Craig of Radley

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The Lord Craig of Radley
17 September 1929 –
Marshal of the Royal Air Force The Lord Craig of Radley Crown Copyright
Place of birth	Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1951–1991
Rank	Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Awards	GCB, OBE
Other work	Convenor of the Crossbench Peers

Marshal of the Royal Air Force David Brownrigg Craig, Baron Craig of Radley, GCB, OBE (born 17 September 1929) is a retired ^[1] Royal Air Force officer and member of the House of Lords.

Contents 1 Early life 2 RAF career 3 House of Lords peer 4 References 5 Footnote

[edit] Early life

David Craig was born in Dublin on 17 September 1929. As a boy growing up in the Republic of Ireland, he was largely unaffected by the events of World War II. In 1943 he came to England and started at Radley College where, in addition to his studies, rowed and later became Head of School. He gained a place at Lincoln College, Oxford and joined Oxford University Air Squadron. Craig graduated with a BA in Pure Mathematics in 1951.

[edit] RAF career

After receiving his commission in 1951, the Lord Craig went on to fly Meteors and Hunters. In 1965, Craig was appointed Military Assistant to the then Chief of the Defence Staff, Field Marshal Sir Richard Hull. During this time, Craig witnessed many of the policy changes that came about whilst Denis Healey was Secretary of State for Defence.

Notably, he has commanded No. 35 Squadron, been Station Commander at RAF Cranwell, Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Strike Command.

Lord Craig was Chief of the Air Staff from 1985 to 1988, and subsequently Chief of Defence Staff from December 9, 1988 to April 1, 1991.

Following his retirement Lord Craig enlisted in the RAF Volunteer Reserve with the rank of Flying Officer in order to fly De Havilland Chipmunk T Mk 10 aircraft for the Air Training Corps.

[edit] House of Lords peer

He was made a life peer as Baron Craig of Radley, of Helhoughton in the County of Norfolk 30 July 1991 and was the Convenor of the Crossbench Peers in the House of Lords from December 1999 until July 2004.

[edit] References

• Probert, H. (1991). High Commanders of the Royal Air Force. HMSO. ISBN 0-11-772635-4

[edit] Footnote

1. ^  Marshals of the Royal Air Force remain on the active list even when they have, for all practical purposes, retired.

Military offices
Preceded by P J Lageson	Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group 1978–1980	Succeeded by M W P Knight
Preceded by Sir Keith Williamson	Commander-in-Chief Strike Command 1982–1985	Succeeded by Sir Peter Harding
Preceded by Sir Keith Williamson	Chief of the Air Staff 1985–1988	Succeeded by Sir Peter Harding
Preceded by The Lord Fieldhouse	Chief of the Defence Staff 1988–1991	Succeeded by The Lord Vincent
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by The Lord Weatherhill	Convenor of the Crossbench Peers 1999–2004	Succeeded by The Lord Williamson

v • d • e Chiefs of the Air Staff of the Royal Air Force Sir Hugh Trenchard • Sir Frederick Sykes • Sir Hugh Trenchard • Sir John Salmond • Sir Geoffrey Salmond • Sir John Salmond • Sir Edward Ellington • Sir Cyril Newall • Sir Charles Portal • Sir Arthur Tedder • Sir John Slessor • Sir William Dickson • Sir Dermot Boyle • Sir Thomas Pike • Sir Charles Elworthy • Sir John Grandy • Sir Denis Spotswood • Sir Andrew Humphrey • Sir Neil Cameron • Sir Michael Beetham • Sir Keith Williamson • Sir David Craig • Sir Peter Harding • Sir Michael Graydon • Sir Richard Johns • Sir Peter Squire • Sir Jock Stirrup • Sir Glenn Torpy