Summary
Air Marshal Sir John Rene Whitley, KBE, CB, DSO, AFC & Bar (7 September 1905 – 26 December 1997) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and also in the post-war years.
Sir John Whitley | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 September 1905 |
| Died | 26 December 1997 (aged 92) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1926–62 |
| Rank | Air Marshal |
| Commands held | Inspector-General of the RAF (1959–62) Air Member for Personnel (1957–59) No. 1 Group (1953–56) RAF Karachi (1946–47) No. 8 Group (1945–46) No. 4 Group (1945) No. 43 Base (1944–45) RAF Lissett (1943–44) RAF Linton-on-Ouse (1941–43) No. 149 Squadron (1940) |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Air Force Cross & Bar Mentioned in Despatches (3) |
RAF career edit
Whitley joined the Royal Air Force in 1926.[1] While serving in India, he was awarded the Air Force Cross for relief flights after the 1935 Quetta earthquake.[1] He served in the Second World War as Officer Commanding No. 149 Squadron and then as Station Commander at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.[1] In April 1943, he was shot down in a Halifax bomber over Belgium. Landing by parachute in Northern France, with the help of the French Resistance he escaped through the Basque country to Spain.[2][3] Returning to England, he continued his war service as Station Commander at RAF Lissett and then as Air Officer Commanding No. 43 Base.[1] He went on to be Air Officer Commanding No. 4 Group and then Air Officer Commanding No. 8 Group.[1]
After the war he served as Assistant Air Officer Administration at Headquarters Air Command South East Asia and then as Station Commander at RAF Karachi.[1] He was appointed Director of Organisation (Establishments) at the Air Ministry in 1947 and Air Officer Administration at Headquarters Second Tactical Air Force in 1951.[1] He went on to be Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group in 1953, Air Member for Personnel in 1957 and Inspector-General of the RAF in 1959 before retiring in 1962.[1]