Keith Williamson

Keith Alec Williamson
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Keith Williamson Crown Copyright
Born	28 February 1928 (1928-02-28) (age 83) Leytonstone, London
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1944–1985
Rank	Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Air Force Cross

Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Keith Alec Williamson, GCB, AFC (born 25 February 1928), is a retired^[1] senior officer in the Royal Air Force. He was Chief of the Air Staff from 1982 to 1985.

RAF career

Williamson was born in Leytonstone and educated at Bancroft's School and Market Harborough Grammar School.^[1] Unlike most of the RAF's senior leaders, Williamson initially joined the Service as an airman. Following training as an Aircraft Apprentice he was selected for a cadetship at RAF College Cranwell and commissioned in 1950.^[1] Williamson was given command of 23 Squadron and then took charge of RAF Gütersloh in 1968.^[2] In 1972 he became Director of Air Staff Plans at the Ministry of Defence and in 1975 he was appointed Commandant of the RAF Staff College, Bracknell.^[3] He went on to be Assistant Chief of Staff at SHAPE with responsibility for Plans and Policy in 1977 and then became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Support Command in 1978.^[1] He was made Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command in 1980 and then served as Chief of the Air Staff from 15 October 1982 to 15 October 1985.^[1]

In retirement Williamson devoted much of his time to the Presidency of the Royal Air Forces Association.^[4]

In 1953 he married Patricia Anne Watts; they had two sons and two daughters.^[1]

Probert, H. (1991). High Commanders of the Royal Air Force. HMSO. ISBN 0-11-772635-4

^ Strictly speaking, Marshals of the Royal Air Force remain on the active list even when they have, for all practical purposes, retired.

Military offices
Preceded by D F C Ross	Station Commander RAF Gutersloh 1968 – 1971	Succeeded by M H Miller
Preceded by A McK S Steedman	Commandant RAF Staff College, Bracknell Air Officer Commanding Command and Staff Training 1975 – 1977	Succeeded by J B Curtiss
Preceded by Sir Rex Roe	Commander-in-Chief Support Command 1978–1980	Succeeded by Sir John Gingell
Preceded by Sir David Evans	Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command 1980–1982	Succeeded by The Lord Craig
Preceded by Sir Michael Beetham	Chief of the Air Staff 1982–1985	Succeeded by The Lord Craig

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 • Lord Portal • Lord 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 • Sir Stephen Dalton