William Gell (RAF officer)

William Gell
Air Vice-Marshal Gell, far left, listens while Duncan Sandys announces the end of the German V-1 flying bomb campaign against London, 7 September 1944
Born	10 July 1888
Died	16 May 1969
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army  Royal Air Force
Years of service	1911 - 1945
Rank	Air Vice Marshal
Commands held	5th/6th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment No. 5 Balloon Centre No. 6 Balloon Centre No. 30 Balloon Group RAF Balloon Command
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order & Bar Military Cross

Air Vice Marshal William Charles Coleman Gell CB DSO & Bar MC DL (10 July 1888 – 16 May 1969) was a Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Balloon Command.

Army career

Educated at the University of Cambridge,^[1] Gell was commissioned into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1911.^[2] He served in World War I and commanded the 5th/6th Battalion in France earning the MC.^[2] After the war he practiced as a solicitor with Johnson & Company in Birmingham.^[2] He joined the Anti Aircraft Service of the Territorial Army in 1935. In 1937 he was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 5th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, of which he had been commanding officer in 1924–29.^[3]

RAF career

During World War II he served as Officer Commanding No. 5 and then No. 6 Balloon Centre preventing German air attacks.^[2] He was appointed Air Officer Commanding No. 30 Balloon Group in 1941 and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Balloon Command in 1944 before retiring in 1945.^[2]

References