Laurence Sinclair
Sir Laurence Sinclair | |
|---|---|
Mentioned in Despatches (2) (United States)Officer of the Legion of Merit |
CBE, DSO & Bar (13 June 1908 – 14 May 2002) was a Royal Air Force officer who was awarded the George Cross
for rescuing a severely injured airman from a crashed and burning plane.
RAF career
Sinclair joined the Royal Air Force as a cadet at the
No. 6 Group and then at No. 91 Group.[1] He became Officer Commanding No. 323 Wing in 1943 and then became Air Officer Commanding the Tactical Bomber Force and then Senior Air Staff Officer for the Balkan Air Force.[1]
After the war he became Director of Postings (Selection) at the
RAF Gutersloh later that year, Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group in 1948 and Assistant Commandant at RAF Cranwell in 1949.[1] He went on to be Commandant of the School of Land / Air Warfare in 1952, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) in 1953 and Air Officer Commanding British Forces Aden in 1955.[1] His last appointment was as Commandant of the Joint Services Staff College in 1958 before retiring in 1960.[1]
In retirement he became the first Controller (Chief Executive) of the UK's
National Air Traffic Control Services (NATCS).[1] His medal is on display at the Victoria & George Cross Gallery in London's Imperial War Museum
.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Vice Marshal Sir Laurence Sinclair
- ^ Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – GC Holders Archived 7 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "No. 35048". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 January 1941. p. 403.