Stephen Strafford

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Stephen Charles Strafford
Born 21 November 1898
Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Died 18 May 1966 (aged 67)
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Years of service 1917–1954
Rank Air Marshal
Commands held Air HQ Iraq and Persia
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Awards Companion of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Flying Cross
Mention in Despatches (3)

Air Marshal Stephen Charles Strafford CB, CBE, DFC, RAF (21 November 1898 18 May 1966) was a pilot in the Royal Naval Air Service during World War I and a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during World War II and the following years.

RAF career

Strafford was commissioned into the Royal Naval Air Service in 1917 during World War I.[1] He was promoted to flight lieutenant in 1924.[2] In 1930 he became a Flight Commander with No. 6 Squadron.[1] He served in World War II as Officer Commanding the Advanced Headquarters (North) of the British Air Forces in France before becoming Deputy Director of Plans at the Air Ministry in 1940.[1] He was made Head British Air Planner for the Combined Chiefs of Staff in Washington D. C. in 1941, before joining the staff of the Chief of Staff to the Supreme Allied Commander (COSSAC) in 1943 and becoming Chief of Plans and Operations for Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force in 1944.[1] After serving as the Air Officer Administration at Middle East Command, Strafford was appointed Air Officer Commanding Air HQ Iraq and Persia in July 1945.[1]

After the War he became Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters RAF Bomber Command before becoming Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment in 1950 and Inspector-General of the RAF in 1952.[1] Strafford was one of the representatives of the RAF at the funeral of King George VI.[1] He retired in 1954.[1]

References

Military offices
Preceded by
R A George
Air Officer Commanding Air HQ Iraq and Persia
Air HQ Iraq from 1946

19451947
Succeeded by
A Gray
Preceded by
H T Lydford
Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment
1950 1952
Succeeded by
Sir Francis Mellersh
Preceded by
Sir Thomas Williams
Inspector-General of the RAF
19521954
Succeeded by
Sir Charles Guest


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