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David Evans (RAF officer)

Summary

Air Chief Marshal Sir David George Evans, GCB, CBE (14 July 1924 – 21 February 2020) was a Canadian-British Royal Air Force officer.

Sir David Evans
Nickname(s)Paddy
Born(1924-07-14)14 July 1924[1]
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Died21 February 2020(2020-02-21) (aged 95)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1944–83
RankAir Chief Marshal
Commands heldVice-Chief of the Defence Staff (1981–83)
Strike Command (1977–80)
Vice-Chief of the Air Staff (1976–77)
No. 1 Group (1973–75)
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

Career edit

Born and educated in Canada, Evans was commissioned into the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer under an emergency commission[2] on 7 April 1944 during the Second World War.[3] He underwent pilot training in Canada and he then completed operational training in Ismaïlia in Egypt.[4] On 7 October 1944, he was promoted to flying officer (war substantive).[5] Evans was one of the first RAF officers to enter Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.[6]

He was promoted to flight lieutenant (war substantive) on 7 April 1946.[7] His promotion to flying officer was confirmed on 30 September 1947 with seniority from 7 April 1946.[8] Evans was promoted to the substantive rank of flight lieutenant on 29 October 1948,[9] with promotions to squadron leader on 1 October 1954,[10] to wing commander on 1 July 1959 and to group captain on 1 July 1964.[11][12]

He piloted the British bobsleigh team at the 1964 Olympics.[6]

In 1973 Evans was made Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group, in 1976 he was appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff[13] and he went on to be Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Strike Command the following year.[14] He was Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff from 1981 to 1983.[4]

Later life edit

In retirement, Evans became a Non-Executive Director of British Aerospace.[15] He retained his Canadian citizenship and made many visits there.[16] He was an honorary citizen of Winnipeg, Canada, Shreveport-Bossier City, United States, and the town of Dunnville, Ontario.[17] He died on 21 February 2020.[6]

Awards and decorations edit

On 9 June 1955, Squadron Leader Evans was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.[18]

In 1985 he was made King of Arms of the Order of the Bath.[19]

References edit

  1. ^ Who's Who 2020: Evans, Air Chief Marshal Sir David (George)
  2. ^ "No. 36570". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 1944. p. 2920.
  3. ^ "No. 36570". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 1944. p. 2924.
  4. ^ a b "90/12 The Putnam Aeronautical Review, issue number 6". Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  5. ^ "No. 36766". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 October 1944. pp. 4915–4916.
  6. ^ a b c Obituaries, Telegraph (1 March 2020). "Air Chief Marshal Sir David Evans, Second World War pilot and Cold War senior officer – obituary". The Telegraph. UK. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  7. ^ "No. 37553". The London Gazette. 30 April 1946. p. 2129.
  8. ^ "No. 38137". The London Gazette. 28 November 1947. p. 5703.
  9. ^ "No. 38573". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 March 1949. p. 1587.
  10. ^ "No. 40289". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 October 1954. p. 5553.
  11. ^ "No. 41753". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 June 1959. p. 4227.
  12. ^ "No. 43372". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 June 1964. p. 5719.
  13. ^ Air Council Appointments 2 Archived 10 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "No. 47184". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 March 1977. p. 4286.
  15. ^ British Aerospace Flight International, 1989
  16. ^ "Evans, Sir David George". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  17. ^ "Air Chief Marshal Sir David Evans obituary". The Times. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  18. ^ "No. 40497". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 June 1955. p. 3293.
  19. ^ "No. 50025". The London Gazette. 4 February 1985. p. 1565.
Military offices
Preceded by Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff
1981–1983 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command
1977–1980 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice-Chief of the Air Staff
1976–1977 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group
1973–1975 		Succeeded by
Philip Lagesen
Heraldic offices
Preceded by King of Arms of the Order of the Bath
1985–1999 		Succeeded by