Hugh Walmsley

Sir Hugh Walmsley
Born 6 June 1898
Died 2 September 1985 (aged 87)
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Years of service 1916-1952
Rank Air Marshal
Commands held No. 33 Squadron
No. 8 Squadron
RAF Abingdon
No. 71 Wing
RAF Scampton
No. 6 (Bomber) Group
No. 91 Group
No. 4 Group
RAF India
Flying Training Command
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Military Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)

Air Marshal Sir Hugh Sidney Porter Walmsley KCB KCIE CBE MC DFC (6 June 1898 2 September 1985) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during and after World War II.

RAF career

Educated at Dover College, Walmsley was commissioned into the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in January 1916 during World War I.[1] He was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps later that year and received a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force in 1919.[1] He was appointed Officer Commanding No. 33 Squadron in 1933 and Officer Commanding No. 8 Squadron in 1935 before becoming Station Commander at RAF Abingdon in 1937.[1]

He served in World War II as Officer Commanding No. 71 Wing and Officer Commanding RAF Scampton before transferring to Headquarters RAF Bomber Command.[1] He continued his war service as Air Officer Commanding No. 6 (Bomber) Group, Air Officer Commanding No. 91 Group and as Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Bomber Command.[1] Finally he was made Air Officer Commanding No. 4 Group in May 1945.[1]

After the War he served with Transport Command in South East Asia before being appointed Air Officer Administration at AHQ India in June 1946.[1] He went on to be Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF India in November 1946, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff in February 1948 and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Flying Training Command in 1950 before retiring in 1952.[1]

In retirement he became Managing Director of Air Service Training Limited at Hamble.[2]

References

Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Roderick Carr
Air Officer Commander-in-Chief, RAF India
1946–1947
Succeeded by
Sir Thomas Elmhirst
Air Officer Commanding, Royal Indian Air Force
Preceded by
Sir Albert Durston
Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
1948 1950
Succeeded by
Sir Arthur Sanders
Preceded by
Sir Ralph Cochrane
Air Officer Commander-in-Chief Flying Training Command
19501952
Succeeded by
Sir Lawrence Pendred