Thomas Langford-Sainsbury

Thomas Langford-Sainsbury CB OBE DFC AFC
Born	23 November 1897
Died	21 June 1972
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1916 - 1949
Rank	Air Vice-Marshal
Commands held	No. 38 Squadron No. 48 Squadron No. 15 (General Reconnaissance) Group No. 201 (Naval Co-operation) Group AHQ Eastern Mediterranean AHQ Egypt
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Officer of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Flying Cross Air Force Cross

Air Vice-Marshal Thomas Audley Langford-Sainsbury CB OBE DFC AFC (23 November 1897 – 21 June 1972) was a senior Royal Air Force officer who commanded British Air Forces in Egypt during World War II.

RAF career

Educated at Radley College,^[1] Langford-Sainsbury was commissioned in to the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 during World War I.^[2] He went on to command No. 38 Squadron from 1932 and No. 48 Squadron from 1936.^[2] Promoted to Wing Commander in 1937,^[3] he served in World War II on the Air Staff at Headquarters No. 16 (Reconnaissance) Group and then as Deputy Senior Air Staff Officer at RAF Coastal Command from 1941.^[2] He continued his war service as Air Officer Commanding No. 15 (General Reconnaissance) Group from 1942, Air Officer Commanding No. 201 (Naval Co-operation) Group from 1943 and Air Officer Commanding AHQ Eastern Mediterranean from 1944.^[2] He was made Air Officer Commanding AHQ Egypt in November 1944 and Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters RAF Bomber Command in May 1945.^[2]

After the War he served as Air Officer Administration at Headquarters British Air Forces of Occupation before retiring in 1949.^[2]

References