Thomas Pike

Thomas Geoffrey Pike
29 June 1906 – 1 June 1983
Sir Thomas Pike with the Luftwaffe General Josef Kammhuber (Pike is shown on the right)
Place of death	RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1924–1967
Rank	Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	GCB CBE DFC

[edit] RAF career

Notably, he commanded No. 219 Squadron in 1941 and RAF North Weald in 1942. He was appointed Air Officer Commanding No. 11 Group in 1950, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff in 1953 and Commander-in-Chief Fighter Command in 1956. He was Chief of the Air Staff from 1 January 1960 to 31 August 1963 and then Deputy Supreme Commander Allied Powers Europe until his retirement in 1967, when he was succeeded by General Sir Robert Bray.

Following his retirement, Pike was made a Deputy Lieutenant of Essex in 1973. He continued in the post until 1981.

Military offices
Preceded by S F Vincent	Air Officer Commanding No. 11 Group 1950–1951	Succeeded by The Earl of Bandon
Preceded by Sir Hubert Patch	Commander-in-Chief Fighter Command 1956–1959	Succeeded by Sir Hector McGregor
Preceded by Sir Dermot Boyle	Chief of the Air Staff 1960–1963	Succeeded by The Lord Elworthy
Preceded by Sir Hugh Stockwell	Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe 1964–1967	Succeeded by Sir Robert Bray

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