John Barraclough (RAF officer)

Barraclough was born on 2 May 1918. He was educated at Cranbrook School, in Cranbrook, Kent.

Barraclough joined the Artists Rifles in 1935.[1] He was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1938.[1]

Barraclough served in the Second World War flying maritime patrol aircraft.[1] On 29 October 1940, it was gazetted that he was promoted to flying officer on 3 September 1940.[2] However, on 14 January 1941, this was substituted for the granting of the war substantive rank of flying officer back dated to 12 August 1940.[3] He was promoted to war substantive flight lieutenant on 12 August 1941.[4] By February 1943, he was an acting squadron leader and flying with No. 209 Squadron RAF which was stationed in East Africa.[5] On 14 March 1943, he was promoted to flight lieutenant.[6] By the end of 1945, he was an acting wing commander.[7]

He became Commanding Officer of RAF Biggin Hill in 1955 and of RAF Middleton St. George in 1957.[1] In 1958 he took charge of Operations and Training at Headquarters Far East Air Force.[1]

He became Director of Public Relations for the RAF in 1961 and Air Officer Commanding No. 19 Group RAF in 1964.[1] He then became Air Officer Administration for Bomber Command in 1967 and for Strike Command in 1968.[1] In 1970 he became Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff and in 1972 he was made Air Secretary.[1] His last appointment was as Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1974.[1]

He was appointed Honorary Inspector-General of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force on 1 January 1984.[8]

In 1946 he married Maureen McCormack and they went on to have one daughter.[9]

Barraclough was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on 16 February 1943 "for gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations".[5] It was gazetted in the 1946 New Year Honours, that he had been Mentioned in Despatches.[7]

He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1969 New Year Honours.[10]

• Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath – 13 June 1970
• Commander of the Order of the British Empire – 10 June 1961
• Distinguished Flying Cross – 16 February 1943
• Air Force Cross – 1941
• Officer of the Venerable Order of Saint John – 1985
• Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air – 1 June 1953
• Mentioned in Despatches – 1 January 1946
• Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
• FIPM
• FBIM (MBIM)
• FIPR (MIPR)

• Telegraph.co.uk – Air Chief Marshal Sir John Barraclough
• Times Online – Air Chief Marshal Sir John Barraclough
• Independent.co.uk – Air Chief Marshal Sir John Barraclough