Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Francis Claude Shelmerdine CIE OBE FRAeS (died July 1945) was a senior officer in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I and a civil servant working in connection with civil aviation in the post-War years. Most significantly he was Director-General of Civil Aviation during the 1930s.
He was commissioned a second lieutenant from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in January 1901.[1]
In November 1915, Shelmerdine transferred from Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment (unofficially known as the Green Howards at that time) to the Royal Flying Corps.[2]
After the War, Shelmerdine took up duties at the Air Ministry where he was the Controller of Aerodromes and Licences. He was later dispatched to Cairo to ensure the smooth-running of the Cairo to Karachi air service. In 1927 Shelmerdine was sent to India to serve as the Director of Civil Aviation in India. He returned to the Air Ministry in 1931 as Director of Civil Aviation, and was Director General of Civil Aviation 1934–41
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Sefton Brancker |
Director-General of Civil Aviation Initially as Director (1931-34) 1931 – 1941 |
Succeeded by Sir William Hildred |