Christopher Foxley-Norris
Mentioned in Despatches | |
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Other work | Chairman (1974–82) & President (2001–03), Leonard Cheshire Foundation Chairman, Battle of Britain Fighter Association (1978-03) |
Early life
Christopher Neil Foxley-Norris was born on 16 March 1917, a younger son of Major John Percivall Foxley-Norris (1886–1924) and his wife, Dorothy Brabant Smith. His paternal grandfather was the clergyman
Second World War
Foxley-Norris was commissioned in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve after graduating and was called up for active service in 1939.[3] He undertook initial flying training at No. 9 Flying Training School at RAF Hullavington and completed the training at No 1 School of Army Co-operation. His first posting on completion of training was to No. 13 Squadron RAF flying Lysanders in the Battle of France.[3]
Following the fall of France and the start of the Battle of Britain, the need for Army Co-operation pilots was greatly reduced while that for fighter pilots was increased. As such, Foxley-Norris was posted to No. 3 Squadron flying Hurricanes from RAF Turnhouse.[3]
He was awarded the
Air Ministry, 29th May, 1945.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations: —
Distinguished Service Order.
Acting Wing Commander Christopher Neil FOXLEY-NORRIS (70225), RAFVR, 143 Sqn.
This officer has a long and distinguished record of operational flying. He has completed numerous sorties on his third tour of duty during which period he has operated against a wide range of enemy targets. For several months this officer has commanded the squadron. During the period numerous attacks have been made against enemy targets. By his brilliant leadership, exceptional skill and determination, Wing Commander Foxley-Norris has contributed in good measure to the successes obtained.
Post-war RAF career
After the war, Foxley-Norris became station commander at RAF Stradishall and then at RAF West Malling.[3] He undertook the Senior Officers' War Course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, and a course at the Imperial Defence College (now the Royal College of Defence Studies) in Belgrave Square in 1961.[3] He went on to be Director of Organisation at the Air Ministry in 1962, Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff in 1963 and Air Officer Commanding No. 224 Group in 1964.[3]
In 1967, Foxley-Norris was appointed Director-General of RAF Organisation at the newly unified
Foxley-Norris was one of the umpires for the 1974 Sandhurst wargame on Operation Sea Lion.[5]
UK pro-smoking lobby organisation
Family
Foxley-Norris married Joan (née Lovell Hughes, now Lady Foxley-Norris) in 1948. They had no children. Joan served as a nurse during the war, and worked with injured pilots. Following his death, she took his place at many Battle of Britain events which were held and was also a regular visitor to RAF Benson.
His funeral took place at St Mary Devoted at
References
- ^ "Foxley-Norris, Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher (Neil)". Who Was Who. A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc (online edition, Oxford University Press). April 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ^ A. C. Fox-Davies. Armorial Families. 1929. pp. 1443–4
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Barrass, M. B. "Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Foxley-Norris". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation.
- ^ "No. 37099". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 May 1945. p. 2713.
- ^ "Operation Sea Lion". Wargamers Historical Resources. 2000. Archived from the original on 13 June 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
- ^ "Puff power lobby". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 June 1979. p. 5.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/92560. Retrieved 16 December 2008. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
Bibliography
- Foxley-Norris, Christopher (1978). A Lighter Shade of Blue: The Lighthearted Memoirs of an Air Marshal. London: I. Allan. ISBN 978-0-71100-858-8.
External links
- "Archival material relating to Christopher Foxley-Norris". UK National Archives.
- "Obituary: Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Foxley-Norris". The Independent. 30 September 2003.
- "Obituary: Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Foxley-Norris". The Daily Telegraph. 29 September 2003.
- Medal Bar of Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Neil Foxley-Norris GCB, DSO, OBE, FRSA at the Royal Air Force Museum.