Percy Bernard, 5th Earl of Bandon
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| Percy Ronald Gardner Bernard, 5th Earl of Bandon | |
|---|---|
| 30 August 1904 – 8 February 1979 | |
| Nickname | Paddy |
| Place of birth | Gillingham, Kent, England |
| Place of death | Bon Secours Hospital, County Cork, Ireland |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Air Chief Marshal Percy Ronald Gardner Bernard, 5th Earl of Bandon, GBE, CB, CVO, DSO, RAF, (30 August 1904 – 8 February 1979) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in the mid-20th century.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
The elder of twins and the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Ronald Percy Hamilton Bernard and Lettice Mina Paget, Percy Bernard was born on 30 August 1904. He received his education at Wellington College before entering the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell in Lincolnshire in 1922.
[edit] Elevation to the peerage
Whilst still at Cranwell, Flight Cadet Bernard succeeded to the title of 5th Earl of Bandon on 18 May 1924. On this day he also succeeded to the titles 5th Baron Bandon, of Bandonbridge, Cork, 5th Viscount Bernard and 5th Viscount Bandon, of Bandonbridge, Cork.
[edit] Marriage and divorce
He married Maybel Elizabeth Playfair, daughter of Raymond Playfair, on 28 February 1933 in Nairobi Cathedral, in Kenya. He and Maybel Elizabeth Playfair were divorced in 1946 before he married Lois Russell, daughter of Francis Russell, on 2 October 1946.
[edit] RAF career
Lord Bandon served successively as Air Officer Commanding 2 Group, Germany 1950–1951; 11 Group 1951–1953; Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Training) 1953–1955; Commander-in-Chief 2 Tactical Air Force and Commander 2 Allied Tactical Air Force 1955–1957; Commander-in-Chief Far Eastern Air Force 1957–1960; and Commander Allied Air Forces Central Europe 1961–1963.
The Earl of Bandon, as an Air Vice Marshal and Air Officer Commanding 11 Group, was in charge of the 168-aircraft Coronation Flypast in 1953.
He died on 8 February 1979 at age 74, without male issue. On his death, his titles became extinct.
[edit] Trivia
There were a number of anecdotes told about the Earl, as his peerage was rare in the RAF. Perhaps the best known was an occasion when he and some other airmen wearing shabby flight dress went to Shepheard's Hotel in Cairo in 1942. An immaculately dressed officer told him, "I am Major the Honourable --------, Assistant Provost Marshal. You and your men are improperly dressed and must leave." The Earl replied, "I am Group Captain the Earl of Bandon and therefore outrank you on both counts. Now do push off, there's a good chap."
[edit] References
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by L F Sinclair |
Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group 1950–1951 |
Succeeded by H D McGregor |
| Preceded by T G Pike |
Air Officer Commanding No. 11 Group 1951–1953 |
Succeeded by H L Patch |
| Preceded by Sir Harry Broadhurst |
Commander Allied Air Forces Central Europe 1961 – 1963 |
Succeeded by Sir Edmund Hudleston |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| Preceded by James Bernard |
Earl of Bandon 1924–1979 |
Succeeded by Extinct |
