David Evans (RAF officer)

Air Chief Marshal Sir David George Evans, GCB, CBE (14 July 1924 – 21 February 2020)[2] was a senior commander of the Royal Air Force.

Not to be confused with David Evans (RAAF officer).

Sir David Evans
Nickname(s)Paddy
Born(1924-07-14)14 July 1924[1]
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Died21 February 2020(2020-02-21) (aged 95)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1944–83
RankAir Chief Marshal
Commands heldVice-Chief of the Defence Staff (1981–83)
Strike Command (1977–80)
Vice-Chief of the Air Staff (1976–77)
No. 1 Group (1973–75)
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

Career

Born and educated in Canada, Evans was commissioned into the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer under an emergency commission[3] on 7 April 1944 during the Second World War.[4] He underwent pilot training in Canada and he then completed operational training in Ismaïlia in Egypt.[5] On 7 October 1944, he was promoted to flying officer (war substantive).[6] Evans was one of the first RAF officers to enter Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.[2]

He was promoted to flight lieutenant (war substantive) on 7 April 1946.[7] His promotion to flying officer was confirmed on 30 September 1947 with seniority from 7 April 1946.[8] Evans was promoted to the substantive rank of flight lieutenant on 29 October 1948,[9] with promotions to squadron leader on 1 October 1954,[10] to wing commander on 1 July 1959 and to group captain on 1 July 1964.[11][12]

He piloted the British bobsleigh team at the 1964 Olympics.[2]

In 1973 Evans was made Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group, in 1976 he was appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff[13] and he went on to be Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Strike Command the following year.[14] He was Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff from 1981 to 1983.[5]

Later life

In retirement, Evans became a Non-Executive Director of British Aerospace.[15]

Awards and decorations

On 9 June 1955, Squadron Leader Evans was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.[16]

In 1985 he was made King of Arms of the Order of the Bath.[17]

References
  1. Who's Who 2020: Evans, Air Chief Marshal Sir David (George)
  2. "Air Chief Marshal Sir David Evans, Second World War pilot and Cold War senior officer – obituary". The Telegraph. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  3. "No. 36570". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 1944. p. 2920.
  4. "No. 36570". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 1944. p. 2924.
  5. "90/12 The Putnam Aeronautical Review, issue number 6". Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  6. "No. 36766". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 October 1944. pp. 4915–4916.
  7. "No. 37553". The London Gazette. 30 April 1946. p. 2129.
  8. "No. 38137". The London Gazette. 28 November 1947. p. 5703.
  9. "No. 38573". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 March 1949. p. 1587.
  10. "No. 40289". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 October 1954. p. 5553.
  11. "No. 41753". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 June 1959. p. 4227.
  12. "No. 43372". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 June 1964. p. 5719.
  13. Air Council Appointments 2 Archived 10 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  14. "No. 47184". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 March 1977. p. 4286.
  15. British Aerospace Flight International, 1989
  16. "No. 40497". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 June 1955. p. 3293.
  17. "No. 50025". The London Gazette. 4 February 1985. p. 1565.
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Patrick Howard-Dobson		 Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff
1981–1983		 Succeeded by
Sir Peter Herbert
Preceded by
Sir Nigel Maynard		 Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command
1977–1980		 Succeeded by
Sir Keith Williamson
Preceded by
Sir Ruthven Wade		 Vice-Chief of the Air Staff
1976–1977		 Succeeded by
Sir Peter Terry
Preceded by
Peter Horsley		 Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group
1973–1975		 Succeeded by
Philip Lagesen
Heraldic offices
Preceded by
Sir Michael Pollock		 King of Arms of the Order of the Bath
1985–1999		 Succeeded by
Sir Brian Kenny


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