David Harcourt-Smith

Sir David Harcourt-Smith
Born 14 October 1931
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Years of service 1952–1989
Rank Air Chief Marshal
Commands held No. 54 Squadron
No. 6 Squadron
RAF Bruggen
RAF College Cranwell
RAF Support Command
Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Flying Cross

Air Chief Marshal Sir David Harcourt-Smith GBE KCB DFC (born 14 October 1931) is a former Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Support Command.

RAF career

Educated at Felsted School and RAF College Cranwell, Harcourt-Smith was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1952.[1] He served in Aden where he won the DFC for gallentry and devotion to duty in 1957.[2]

He was appointed Officer Commanding No. 54 Squadron in 1963 and Officer Commanding No. 6 Squadron in 1969 before moving on to be Station Commander at RAF Bruggen in 1972 and Commandant of the RAF College Cranwell in 1978.[1] He went on to be Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operational Requirements) in 1980, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Support Command in 1984 and Controller of Aircraft in 1986.[1] As Controller of Aircraft he oversaw the introduction of the Tucano training aircraft.[3] He retired in 1989.[1]

Family

In 1957 he married Dorothy Mary Entwistle; they had two sons and one daughter.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Debrett's People of Today 1994
  2. ^ London Gazette: no. 41243. p. 7047. 29 November 1957. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
  3. ^ MoD admits Tucano delay Flight International, 1 February 1985
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Michael Beavis		 Commander-in-Chief Support Command
1984–1986		 Succeeded by
Sir John Sutton