Richard Saul

This article is about the RAF officer. For the American architect and graphic designer, see Richard Saul Wurman.
Richard Ernest Saul

Air Vice-Marshal Richard Saul
Born 16 April 1891
Dublin, Ireland[1]
Died 30 November 1965 (aged 74)
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army[2]
 Royal Air Force
Years of service 1914–1944
Rank Air Vice-Marshal
Commands held No. 4 Squadron
No. 7 Squadron
No. 12 Squadron
No. 2 Squadron
No. 203 Squadron
No. 13 Group
No. 12 Group
Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean
Battles/wars First World War
Second World War
Awards Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Flying Cross
Mention in Despatches
Other work United Nations official

Air Vice-Marshal Richard Ernest Saul CB, DFC, RAF (16 April 1891 – 30 November 1965) was a pilot during World War I and a senior Royal Air Force commander during World War II.

Earlier Years

Saul was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1891. At the start of the First World War he was a second lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps but by 1916 he was a Flying Officer (Observer) with No. 16 Squadron of the Army's Royal Flying Corps.[3] During the war he rose to command No. 4 Squadron and after the armistice he commanded No. 7 Squadron and then No. 12 Squadron.[3] In 1925 he was given command of No. 2 Squadron.[3] A keen sportsman Saul played rugby and hockey for the RAF; in both 1928 and 1932 he was the RAF tennis champion.[3]

In September 1933 Saul was appointed the Officer Commanding No. 203 Squadron operating out of Basra in Iraq and in 1935 Saul led a flight of flying boats, from his squadron, on a long-distance journey from Plymouth to Basra.[3]

World War II and beyond

During World War II Saul was air officer commanding No. 13 Group from 1939, air officer commanding No. 12 Group from 1940 and then air officer commanding Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean from 1943.[3]

Saul retired from the RAF on 29 June 1944 and then served as the Chairman of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration's mission in the Balkans.[3] He next acted as the Vice-Chairman of the International Transport Commission in Rome.[3] After Saul left Rome in 1951, he took up employment as the manager of the University of Toronto bookshop until finally retiring in 1959.[3] Richard Saul died on 30 November 1965 after being hit by a car two days earlier.

Honours and awards

Notes

  1. ↑ Richard Saul - History of the Battle of Britain
  2. ↑ Royal Army Service Corps then Royal Flying Corps
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Vice-Marshal R E Saul

References

Military offices
Preceded by
L Jenkins		 Officer Commanding No. 4 Squadron
2 December 1917 – 5 January 1919 		Succeeded by
H B Prior
Preceded by
L F Forbes		 Officer Commanding No. 2 Squadron
2 March 1925 – 8 January 1927 		Succeeded by
W Sowrey
Preceded by
W L Welsh		 Officer Commanding No. 203 Squadron
29 September 1933 – 20 March 1936 		Succeeded by
W B Callaway
Preceded by
E A B Rice		 Officer Commanding RAF Calshot
31 July 1936 – 10 June 1937 		Succeeded by
A Coningham
New title Air Officer Commanding No. 13 (Fighter) Group
24 July 1939 – 17 December 1940 		Succeeded by
J O Andrews
Preceded by
T L Leigh-Mallory		 Air Officer Commanding No. 12 (Fighter) Group
17 December 1940 – 29 November 1942 		Succeeded by
J O Andrews
Preceded by
W A McClaughry		 Air Officer Commanding Air Headquarters Egypt
Became AOC Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean on 4 March 1943
5 January 1943 – 1 February 1944 		Succeeded by
T A Langford-Sainsbury
As AOC Air Headquarters Eastern Mediterranean