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Denis Smallwood

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Sir Denis Smallwood
Born13 August 1918
Died26 July 1997(1997-07-26) (aged 78)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1938–76
RankAir chief marshal
CommandsUK Air Forces (1975–76)
Strike Command (1974–76)
Near East Air Force (1969–70)
No. 3 Group (1965–67)
College of Air Warfare (1961–63)
RAF North Coates (1959–61)
RAF Biggin Hill (1953–55)
No. 33 Squadron (1948–50)
No. 87 Squadron (1941–42)
Battles / warsSecond World War
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross
Mentioned in dispatches

Air Chief Marshal Sir Denis Graham Smallwood, GBE, KCB, DSO, DFC, FRAeS, FRSA (13 August 1918 – 26 July 1997) was a senior Royal Air Force commander.

RAF career

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Educated at King Edward VI School in Birmingham, Smallwood joined the Royal Air Force in 1938.[1]

Wartime colour photo of Hurricane IIC BE500 flown by Sqn Ldr Denis Smallwood of 87 Sqn in overall RDM2 ("Special Night") scheme and used on intruder operations 1941–1942.

Smallwood took part in the Second World War and in November 1941 he was appointed Officer Commanding of No. 87 Squadron flying Hurricanes.[1] In 1948 he became Officer Commanding No. 33 Squadron and in 1959 he joined the Directing Staff at the Joint Staff Services College before becoming Station Commander at RAF Biggin Hill in 1953.[1] He became Group Captain, Plans for the Air Task Force in 1956 and then Officer Commanding RAF North Coates in 1959 before becoming Commandant of the College of Air Warfare in 1961.[1] In 1963 he was made Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) and in 1965 he was appointed Air Officer Commanding No. 3 Group.[1] He went on to be Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters, Bomber Command in 1967, Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters, Strike Command in 1968 and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Near East Air Force (including responsibility for British Forces Cyprus and Administration of the Sovereign Base Areas) in 1969.[1] Finally he was appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff in 1970, Air Officer Commander-in-Chief Strike Command in 1974 and Commander-in-Chief, UK Air Forces in 1975 before retiring in 1976.[1]

He lived at Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire.[2]

Family

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In 1940 he married Frances Jeanne Needham ; they had one son and one daughter.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Chief Marshal Sir Denis Smallwood
  2. ^ a b Debrett's People of Today 1994
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Military offices
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief Near East Air Force
Commander British Forces Cyprus
1969–1970 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice-Chief of the Air Staff
1970–1973 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief Strike Command
1974–1976 		Succeeded by
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