Donald Hardman

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Sir Donald Hardman
Air Chief Marshal
UnitNo. 19 Squadron (1918)
No. 31 Squadron (1922–26)
No. 16 Squadron (1926–28)
No. 22 Group (1928–31, 1940)
No. 216 Squadron (1931–34)
No. 23 Group (1936–37)
Commands heldNo. 232 Group (1945–46)
RAF Staff College, Bracknell (1949–51)
RAF Home Command (1951–52)
Royal Australian Air Force (1952–54)
Battles/wars
Awards
(US)

KCB, DFC (21 February 1899 – 2 March 1982), known as Donald Hardman, was a senior Royal Air Force commander. He began his flying career as a fighter pilot in World War I, achieving nine victories to become an ace. During World War II, Hardman held senior staff and operational posts. He was Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) from 1952 to 1954, after which he served as a member of the British Air Council
until retiring in 1958.

Born in

mentioned in despatches
.

Finishing the war an

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
in January 1958, shortly before his retirement.

Early life and World War I

Single-engined military biplane with staggered wings
Sopwith Dolphin fighter

Born on 21 February 1899 in

Oldham, Lancashire, James Donald Innes Hardman was the son of a master cotton-spinner, also named James, and his wife Wilhelmina Innes. The younger James, known as Donald, attended Malvern College.[1][2] Hardman began his military career in 1916 as a seventeen-year-old private in the Artists Rifles—part of the London Regiment—and joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) early the following year.[3][4] He was commissioned a temporary second lieutenant on 10 May 1917 and confirmed in his rank on 21 July.[5][6]

Prevented initially from seeing combat because of his youth, Hardman was eventually posted to No. 19 Squadron on the Western Front in February 1918, just as the unit was completing its conversion from SPAD S.VIIs to Sopwith Dolphins.[1][4] He achieved his first aerial victory in May 1918.[1] On 28 September, Hardman was promoted from lieutenant to temporary captain, and appointed as one of No. 19 Squadron's flight commanders.[1][7] He scored two victories in one sortie on 30 October 1918, when he led twelve Dolphins escorting DH.9 bombers of No. 98 Squadron to Mons; in a dogfight that resulted in the loss of ten British aircraft, Hardman sent two German Fokker D.VIIs down in flames.[4] His "cool judgment and skill in leading" during this action earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross; the award was promulgated on 11 February 1919.[8] Hardman's final wartime tally was nine victories.[2][4] The life expectancy of even an experienced RFC pilot on the Western Front was as little as three weeks;[9][10] years later, Hardman admitted that he was still surprised he had survived.[9]

Inter-war years

Two Royal Air Force biplanes in flight
Bristol Fighters, operated by Nos. 31 and 16 Squadrons between the wars

Hardman's commission was terminated on 8 March 1919; the following year he commenced an economics degree at

army cooperation unit that flew Bristol Fighters during the Waziristan campaign.[14][15] Hardman's commission was made permanent on 30 September 1925.[16] Returning to Britain, he joined No. 16 Squadron, which operated Bristol Fighters out of Old Sarum, in September 1926.[17][18] Hardman was promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 July 1927, and attended the Armament and Gunnery School, Eastchurch, in 1928.[19][20] He was then posted to the headquarters staff of No. 22 (Army Co-operation) Group, South Farnborough.[21][22]

On 8 July 1930, Hardman married Dorothy Ursula Ashcroft Thompson at

wing commander on 1 January 1939.[29][30]

World War II

On first meeting the then Air Commodore in his headquarters in Comilla one was immediately aware of an exceptionally dignified bearing, a considerable presence, great humour; there was much leg-pulling and light-hearted banter, the whole atmosphere was very much at ease. Yet one also obtained a remarkably strong impression of "No nonsense"; it was made quite clear that there was a tough job ahead.

—Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Grandy, on serving under Hardman at Combat Cargo Task Force, 1944–45 [31]

At the onset of World War II, Hardman was sent to France with the RAF element of the

mentioned in despatches on 1 January 1941.[34] On 1 March 1941, he was promoted temporary group captain.[35]

Hardman was promoted temporary

Companion of the Order of the Bath on 5 July 1945 for "gallant and distinguished services in connection with the operations in Burma".[42] The US government awarded him the Bronze Star; permission to wear the decoration was gazetted on 15 March 1946.[43]

Post-war career

Two men in dark military uniforms with peaked caps
Air Marshal Hardman (left) as RAAF Chief of the Air Staff, with Air Vice-Marshal John McCauley, viewing a parade by No. 78 Wing shortly before its departure for garrison duties in Malta, July 1952

Hardman was promoted to acting air vice-marshal on 1 October 1945.[44] He remained in South-East Asia following the cessation of hostilities, taking over as Air Officer in Charge of Administration for ACSEA (later Air Command Far East) in January 1946.[13][39] After his return to Britain he was appointed to several senior posts in the RAF including, successively, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) in May 1947, Commandant of RAF Staff College, Bracknell, in January 1949, and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Home Command in September 1951.[39][45] Hardman's wartime rank of air commodore became substantive on 1 October 1946,[46] and this was followed by substantive promotion to air vice-marshal on 1 July 1948.[47] He was raised to acting air marshal on 1 October 1951.[48]

On 14 January 1952, Hardman was appointed

The Daily Mirror in Sydney was one of several media outlets to voice a "stern protest" over the matter. Menzies also felt he could justify the appointment of an outsider on the grounds that the RAAF's geographically based command-and-control system needed reorganisation along functional lines, a system with which a senior RAF member would be familiar. Britain's CAS, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Slessor, was, somewhat reluctantly, responsible for fulfilling the Australian Government's request for a suitable officer. In putting forward Hardman as the "outstanding candidate" for the Australian post, Slessor tried to avoid what he called "the follies of some years ago", referring to Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Burnett's controversial tenure as CAS on secondment from the RAF early in World War II.[51]

Hardman made two major changes to the structure of the Air Force to streamline command and control: integrating RAAF Headquarters,

Queen's Birthday Honours promulgated on 5 June 1952,[57] and raised to substantive air marshal on 1 July.[58]

Three men in dark military uniforms with peaked caps
Hardman (left) as RAF Air Member for Supply and Organisation, with Air Marshal Sir Claude Pelly (centre), and Lord Mountbatten (right) at a ceremonial parade for No. 78 Wing RAAF on its departure from garrison duty in Malta, December 1954

As a protege of Slessor, Hardman proclaimed: "An air force without bombers isn't an air force." He maintained that the only way to attain "true and enduring air superiority" was by attacking the enemy's vital centres, which included its means of producing fighters.[59] He recommended that the RAAF purchase one of Britain's nuclear-capable "V bombers"—the Vickers Valiant, Handley Page Victor, or Avro Vulcan—though this never eventuated, and Australia's jet bomber remained the English Electric Canberra until the long-delayed introduction of the General Dynamics F-111C in 1973.[1][60] Towards the end of his tenure as CAS, Hardman gave an interview in which he criticised Army and Navy operations against a backdrop of continuing interservice rivalry for the defence budget.[61] He was quoted as saying: "The Air Force in this country, for either defence or offence, is the only force worth while. It can be sent anywhere in the world to the point where it can do most good and be rapidly switched to any other point."[62] In contrast to the initial disquiet at his appointment, upon his departure from Australia Hardman was described by The Age as "the outstanding CAS in the RAAF's history", a "brilliant organiser", and a "master of the theory of air power".[51] He was succeeded by McCauley on 18 January 1954.[49]

Hardman returned to Britain on the

Air Member for Supply and Organisation on 1 May 1954, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Sir John Whitworth-Jones.[63][64] In December, he represented the Air Council at No. 78 Wing's farewell parade in Malta, reminding the personnel gathered that he had been present at the wing's march through Sydney in July 1952, prior to its departure for the Mediterranean.[65] He was promoted to air chief marshal on 1 April 1955.[66] In July 1956, he presented a Squadron Standard to his old unit, No. 19 Squadron.[67] That October, he presided over the inquiry into the fatal crash of Vulcan XA897 at Heathrow Airport after its maiden round-the-world flight, the only survivors of the six crew members being the pilot and Air Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst.[68] Hardman was succeeded as Air Member for Supply and Organisation by Air Chief Marshal Sir Walter Dawson on 1 January 1958, and was raised to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire the same day.[69] He retired from the RAF on 29 January.[70]

Later life

Hardman joined the board of New Electronic Products Ltd in May 1959.[71] In February 1963, he succeeded Air Chief Marshal Sir Douglas Evill as the RAF Benevolent Fund's honorary county representative for Hampshire.[72] Hardman died on 2 March 1982, while holidaying in Estoril, Portugal, and was survived by his wife and children.[1][73] His grave lies in the churchyard of St John's Church, Farley Chamberlayne, Hampshire.[74]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l McCarthy, John. "Hardman, Sir James Donald Innes (1899–1982)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b Stephens; Isaacs, High Fliers, pp. 113–115
  3. ^ Stephens, Australia's Air Chiefs, pp. 23–24
  4. ^ a b c d Franks, Dolphin and Snipe Aces, p. 25
  5. ^ "No. 30100". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 May 1917. p. 5309.
  6. ^ "Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing)". Flight. 30 August 1917. p. 899. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  7. ^ "No. 30953". The London Gazette. 15 October 1918. p. 12126.
  8. ^ "No. 13400". The Edinburgh Gazette. 11 February 1919. p. 798.
  9. ^ a b Brent, A Century of Military Aviation, pp. 27–28
  10. ^ Robertson, The Dream of Civilized Warfare, p. 106
  11. ^ "No. 31279". The London Gazette. 8 April 1919. p. 4574.
  12. ^ "The Royal Air Force". Flight. 10 November 1921. p. 744. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  13. ^ a b c d "RAF Officers on Loan or Exchange". Air Marshals of the RAAF. Department of Defence. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  14. ^ "The man who will lead the Air Force". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 October 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  15. ^ "31 Squadron". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  16. ^ "No. 33094". The London Gazette. 20 October 1925. p. 6776.
  17. ^ "The Royal Air Force". Flight. 2 September 1926. p. 557. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  18. ^ "16 Squadron". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  19. ^ "No. 33290". The London Gazette. 1 July 1927. pp. 4239–4240.
  20. ^ "The Royal Air Force". Flight. 15 March 1928. p. 183. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  21. ^ The Aeroplane Directory of British Aviation, p. 412
  22. ^ "22 (Training) Group". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  23. ^ "The Royal Air Force". Flight. 16 October 1931. p. 1053. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  24. ^ Dean, The Royal Air Force and Two World Wars, p. 175
  25. ^ Philpott, The Royal Air Force, p. 308
  26. ^ "Royal Air Force intelligence". Flight. 31 January 1935. p. 128. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  27. ^ "The Royal Air Force". Flight. 6 February 1936. p. 154. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  28. ^ "No. 34252". The London Gazette. 4 February 1936. p. 737.
  29. ^ "Royal Air Force appointments". Flight. 24 February 1938. p. 185. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  30. ^ "No. 34586". The London Gazette. 3 January 1939. pp. 61–62.
  31. ^ a b Grandy, John (15 March 1982). "Air Chief Marshal Sir Donald Hardman". The Times. p. 10.
  32. ^ "RAF appointments". Flight. 15 November 1945. p. 540. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  33. ^ "No. 34893". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 July 1940. p. 4253.
  34. ^ "No. 35029". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1940. pp. 33–34.
  35. ^ "No. 35102". The London Gazette. 11 March 1941. p. 1448.
  36. ^ "No. 36780". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 November 1944. p. 5073.
  37. ^ "No. 36902". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 January 1945. p. 507.
  38. ^ Pearson, The Burma Air Campaign, p. 142
  39. ^ a b c "RAF appointments". The Times. 19 May 1947. p. 8.
  40. ^ Pearson, The Burma Air Campaign, p. 165
  41. ^ Probert, Henry (2000). "Air transport and supply in the Burma War" (PDF). Royal Air Force Historical Society Journal 22. p. 48. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  42. ^ "No. 37161". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 July 1945. p. 3491.
  43. ^ "No. 37501". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 March 1946. pp. 1379–1380.
  44. ^ "No. 37336". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 November 1945. p. 5385.
  45. ^ "News in brief". The Times. 2 April 1955. p. 3.
  46. ^ "No. 37758". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 October 1946. p. 5080.
  47. ^ "No. 38344". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 July 1948. p. 3895.
  48. ^ "No. 39520". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 April 1952. p. 2169.
  49. ^ a b Stephens, Going Solo, p. 499
  50. ^ Stephens, Going Solo, p. 73
  51. ^ a b c Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 73–74
  52. ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 75–76
  53. ^ Helson, Ten Years at the Top, pp. 293–294
  54. ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 188–190
  55. ^ Stephens, Going Solo, p. 397
  56. ^ Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 221–222
  57. ^ "No. 39555". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 May 1952. p. 3009.
  58. ^ "No. 39586". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 June 1952. p. 3581.
  59. ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 38, 362
  60. ^ Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, p. 285
  61. ^ Dennis et al., The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History, p. 287
  62. ^ "Defence chief's blast". The News. 16 February 1954. p. 1. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  63. ^ Stephens, Going Solo, p. 206
  64. ^ "No. 40163". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 May 1954. p. 2618.
  65. ^ "No. 78 Wing returns home". Flight. 10 December 1954. p. 847. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  66. ^ "No. 40442". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 April 1955. p. 1929.
  67. ^ "No. 19 Sqn Standard". Flight. 20 July 1956. p. 136. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  68. ^ McLelland, Vulcan, pp. 96–98
  69. ^ "No. 41266". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1957. p. 7593.
  70. ^ "No. 41268". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1958. p. 9.
  71. ^ "Business Changes". The Times. 19 May 1959. p. 14.
  72. ^ "Air Force, Naval and Army Flying News". Flight International. 28 February 1963. p. 308. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  73. ^ "A C/M Sir D. Hardman". The Times. 9 March 1982. p. 14.
  74. ISBN 978-0-9711966-2-9
    .

References

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Donald Hardman.
Military offices
Preceded by Commandant of the RAF Staff College, Bracknell
1949–1951 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of the Air Staff (RAAF)
1952–1954 		Succeeded by
Sir John McCauley
Preceded by
Air Member for Supply and Organisation

1954–1957 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Donald_Hardman&oldid=1217016443"