David Harcourt-Smith
Air Chief Marshal Sir David Harcourt-Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 October 1931 Singapore |
| Died | 4 August 2024 (aged 92) Amesbury |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1952–1989 |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Commands | Support Command (1984–86) Royal Air Force College Cranwell (1978–80) RAF Bruggen (1972–74) No. 6 Squadron (1969–70) No. 54 Squadron (1963–65) |
| Battles / wars | Aden Emergency |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Relations | Air Vice Marshal Gilbert Harcourt-Smith (father) |
Air Chief Marshal Sir David Harcourt-Smith, GBE, KCB, DFC (14 October 1931 – 4 August 2024) was a Royal Air Force officer who served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Support Command from 1984 to 1986. He is the author of Wings Over Suez, an account of air operations during the Sinai and Suez wars.
RAF career
[edit]Educated at Felsted School and the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, Harcourt-Smith was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1952.[1] He flew the DH Venom fighter-bomber[2] in the Suez Crisis and Aden Emergency, where he won the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry and devotion to duty in 1957.[3]
Harcourt-Smith was appointed Officer Commanding No. 54 Squadron in 1963 and Officer Commanding No. 6 Squadron in 1969 before moving on to be Station Commander at RAF Bruggen in 1972 and Commandant of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in 1978.[1] He went on to be Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operational Requirements) in 1980, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Support Command in 1984 and Controller of Aircraft in 1986.[1] As Controller of Aircraft he oversaw the introduction of the Tucano training aircraft.[4] He retired in 1989.[1]
Personal life and death
[edit]In 1957 Harcourt-Smith married Dorothy Mary Entwistle; they had two sons and one daughter.[1] He died on 4 August 2024, at the age of 92.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Debrett's People of Today 1994
- ^ Oliver, D. (1987) British Combat Aircraft in action since 1945 pp. 83–4 ISBN 071101678X
- ^ "No. 41243". The London Gazette. 29 November 1957. p. 7047.
- ^ MoD admits Tucano delay Flight International, 1 February 1985
- ^ "Air Chief Marshal Sir David Harcourt-Smith, GBE, KCB, DFC". The Telegraph. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- 1931 births
- 2024 deaths
- Graduates of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell
- Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
- Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
- People educated at Felsted School
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
- Royal Air Force air marshals
- Commandants of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell