| Sir Walter Merton | |
|---|---|
| Born | 29 August 1905 |
| Died | 23 March 1986 |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1924 - 1963 |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Commands held | No. 38 Squadron No. 218 Squadron No. 37 Squadron RAF Luqa RAF Mildenhall RAF Upwood No. 63 Group No. 22 Group |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
Air Chief Marshal Sir Walter Hugh Merton GBE, KCB, RAF (29 August 1905 - 23 March 1986) was a senior Royal Air Force commander during World War II. After the War he held several senior RAF appointments before his retirement in 1963.
Born a Canadian,[1] Merton joined the Royal Air Force as a cadet in 1924.[2] He was appointed Officer Commanding No. 38 Squadron in 1937.[2] He served in World War II as Officer Commanding No. 218 Squadron and then as Officer Commanding No. 37 Squadron.[2] He continued his war service as Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters 257 Wing and then in the Middle East.[2] He was made Station Commander at RAF Luqa in 1943 and Assistant Commandant at the RAF War Staff College in April 1944 before becoming Director of Organisation at the Air Ministry in August 1944.[2]
After the War he became Station Commander at RAF Mildenhall and then at RAF Upwood before becoming Air Attaché in Prague in 1947.[2] He was appointed Deputy Director for Air Force Liaison in 1948, Head of the RAF Delegation in Greece in 1949 and Air Officer Commanding No. 63 Group in 1951.[2] He went on to be Air Officer Commanding No. 22 Group in 1952, Chief of Staff to the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1954 and Air Officer for Administration at Headquarters RAF Bomber Command in 1956.[2] After that he was made Chief of Staff at Headquarters Allied Air Forces Central Europe in 1959 and Air Member for Supply and Organisation in 1960[1] before retiring in 1963.[2]
In retirement he became Inspector-General of Civil Defence.[2]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Walter Dawson |
Air Member for Supply and Organisation 1960 – 1963 |
Succeeded by Sir John Baker-Carr (acting) |