William Dickson (RAF officer)

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William Forster Dickson
24 September 1898–12 September 1987
Dickson sitting down to afternoon tea while attending a conference at the Tactical Headquarters of the 8th Army, near Venafro, Italy.
Place of birth	Northwood, Middlesex
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1916–1959
Rank	Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	GCB, KBE, DSO, AFC
Other work	Master of The Glass Sellers’ Company

Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir William Forster Dickson, GCB, KBE, DSO, AFC (24 September 1898–12 September 1987) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force.

Dickson was born in Northwood in Middlesex and educated both at Bowden House in the Sussex town of Seaford and at Haileybury College.

[edit] Service career

He joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1916 and was transferred to the Royal Air Force on its creation in 1918. Notably, he was Officer Commanding No. 25 Squadron in 1935. He went on to become Air Officer Commanding No. 9 Group in 1942, No. 10 Group later in 1942, No. 83 Group in 1943 and the Desert Air Force in 1944.

He was appointed Vice-Chief of the Air Staff in 1946, Commander-in-Chief RAF Medditerranean & Middle East in 1948, and Air Member for Supply & Organisation in 1950.

He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1953 to 1955 and Chief of Defence Staff from 1956 to 1959.

[edit] Later life

In retirement he worked for a variety of charitable organisations.

[edit] References

• Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - MRAF Dickson
• Papers of William Dickson
• Probert, H. (1991). High Commanders of the Royal Air Force. HMSO. ISBN 0-11-772635-4

Military offices
Preceded by A H Orlebar	Air Officer Commanding 10 Group 1942 – 1943	Succeeded by C R Steele
Preceded by H Broadhurst	Air Officer Commanding Desert Air Force 1944	Succeeded by R M Foster
Preceded by Sir John Slessor	Chief of the Air Staff 1953–1955	Succeeded by Sir Dermot Boyle
New title Post established	Chief of the Defence Staff 1956–1959	Succeeded by The Viscount Mountbatten of Burma

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