William Coles (RAF officer)

Sir William Coles
Born	26 July 1913
Died	7 June 1979
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1938 - 1968
Rank	Air Marshal
Commands held	No. 117 Squadron No. 233 Squadron RAF Middleton St. George No. 23 (Training) Group Technical Training Command
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Air Force Cross

Air Marshal Sir William Edward Coles KBE CB DSO DFC & Bar AFC (26 July 1913 - 7 June 1979) was a Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Technical Training Command.

RAF career

Coles joined the Royal Air Force in 1938.^[1] He served in World War II as Officer Commanding No. 117 Squadron and as Officer Commanding No. 233 Squadron.^[1] After the War he became a Staff Officer at the Air Ministry before joining the Central Flying School.^[1] He was appointed Station Commander at RAF Middleton St. George in 1950, Chief Flying Instructor at the Central Flying School in 1951 and Air Adviser to the UK High Commissioner in Australia in 1953.^[1] He went on to be Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters No. 3 (Bomber) Group in 1957, Air Officer Commanding No. 23 (Training) Group in 1960 and Director-General of RAF Personal Services in 1963.^[1] His last appointment was as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Technical Training Command in 1966 before retiring in 1968.^[1]

In retirement he became President of the Not Forgotten Association^[2] and Controller of the RAF Benevolent Fund.^[3]

References