Neil Wheeler
| Henry Neil George Wheeler | |
|---|---|
| Born |
8 July 1917 Pretoria, Union of South Africa |
| Died | 9 January 2009 (aged 91) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1935 – 1976 |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Commands held |
No. 236 Squadron RAF Laarbruch Far East Air Force |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Malayan Emergency |
| Awards |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross & bar Air Force Cross |
| Other work | Director of Rolls Royce (1977-82) and Director of Flight Refuelling (Holdings) |
Air Chief Marshal Sir Henry Neil George Wheeler, GCB, CBE, DSO, DFC and bar, AFC (8 July 1917 – 9 January 2009) was a British Royal Air Force officer.
Military career
Educated St Helen's College in Southsea and the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, Wheeler was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1935.[1] He served with Bomber Command from 1937 and then spent part of World War II as Officer Commanding No. 236 Squadron[2] in Fighter Command before going to the RAF Staff College and US Army Staff College in 1943.[1]
After the War he joined the Directing Staff at the RAF Staff College and then transferred to the Far East Air Force in 1947.[1] He was posted to the Directing Staff at the Joint Services Staff College in 1949 and to Bomber Command in 1951 before going to the Air Ministry in 1953.[1] He was appointed Assistant Commandant at the RAF College in 1957 and Officer Commanding RAF Laarbruch in 1959.[1] He attended the Imperial Defence College in 1961 and then served in the Ministry of Defence from 1961.[1] He became Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters RAF Germany (2 Tactical Air Force) in 1963 and Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Operational Requirements) in 1966.[1] He was made Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Operational Requirements) in 1967 and Commander of the Far East Air Force in 1969.[1] He was Air Member for Supply and Organisation at the Ministry of Defence from 1970 and then Controller of Aircraft at the Procurement Executive from 1973.[1]
In retirement he became a Director of Rolls Royce Limited.[1]
Family
In 1942 he married Elizabeth Weightman and then went on to have two sons and a daughter.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
- ↑ Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Chief Marshal Sir Neil Wheeler
- ↑ Obituary: Sir Neil Wheeler Daily Telegraph, 13 January 2009
External links
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New Post |
Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Operational Requirements) 1967–1968 |
Succeeded by Sir Noel Thomas |
| Preceded by Sir Rochford Hughes |
Commander-in-Chief Far East Air Force 1969 – 1970 |
Succeeded by N M Maynard |
| Preceded by Sir Thomas Prickett |
Air Member for Supply and Organisation 1970 – 1973 |
Succeeded by Sir Anthony Heward |
| Preceded by Sir Peter Fletcher |
Controller Aircraft 1973 – 1975 |
Succeeded by Sir Douglas Lowe |