British officers  |  RAF(VR)  |  home

Royal Air Force (RAF) Officers
1939-1945

 

Looking for details on a RAF officer not listed here yet?
Just e-mail me, and I might be able to help out.
Of course, any additions, corrections etc. can also be e-mailed.

For detailed biographies of key RAF personnel (Air Commodore and higher) there is already an excellent website: www.rafweb.org
Only RAF officers of ranks below Air Commodore will be shown here in detail. Abbreviations and explanations can be found at the help page.


A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

T.H. Jackson  to  P.B. Joubert de la Ferté
Jackson,
Thomas Howard
"Tom"
T.H. Jackson
Son (with five sisters and two brothers) of William John Jackson (1878-1944), and Mary Jane Walton (1878-1961).
Married ...; one daughter.
24.01.1923
Bishop Auckland, Durham
-
20.10.2008
Alconbury, Cambridgeshire
Sgt. ? [574984]
(A) P/O (prob) 23.09.1943 [53062]
F/O 19.06.1947, seniority 10.02.1945
F/Lt. 20.06.1947, seniority 23.03.1947
Sq.Ldr. 01.01.1960
W/Cdr. 01.01.1970 (retd 24.01.1978)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division) OBE 03.06.1978 HM's birthday 78
23.09.1943     commissioned, RAF (Technical Branch) [emergency commission]
19.06.1947     extended service
01.12.1954     permanent commission
01.01.1960     transferred to General List
(1970) - 24.01.1978 served RAF (Engineer Branch)
Jaffe,
Alfred Daniel
"Fred"
A.D. Jaffe (Photo courtesy of Mr Andrew Wilkinson) A.D. Jaffe
A.D. Jaffe A.D. Jaffe
A.D. Jaffe 
Son of Daniel Joseph Jaffe (1876-1921), and Florence Hilda Maud Mary Sleemin (1873-1969).
Married Roma Elaine Constance Lavers (15.07.1920 - 01.02.1990); two children.
15.09.1907
Tatsfield, Surrey
-
31.07.1968
Guy's Hospital, London
P/O (prob) 02.03.1928 [24235]
P/O 21.03.1929, seniority 02.03.1928
F/O 08.10.1929
F/Lt. 03.09.1939 (reld 20.11.1945; medical unfitness; retaining rank of Sq.Ldr.)
(T) Sq.Ldr. 01.03.1942
02.03.1928     commissioned, RAF (General Duties Branch) [short service commission]
07.01.1930 - (03.1931) No. 460 Flight FAA, HMS Eagle (aircraft carrier)
02.03.1933 - 20.11.1945 Reserve of Air Force Officers (General Duties Branch)
... - ... ...
After university he joined the RAF and trained as pilot. Seconded to Fleet Air Arm. Subsequently pilot for Imperial Airways, and self-employed with own plane for cartography, newspaper run Croydon Aerodrome - Paris etc. Rejoined RAF in 2nd World War and reached rank of Squadron Leader, Acting Group Captain. After 2nd World War and becoming deaf given a desk job at Croydon Aerodrome, but retired early. A car enthusiast who raced Lagondas and motor-bikes at Brooklands etc. in the 1930s, and a keen dahlia-grower.
James,
Bertram Arthur
"Jimmy"
B.A. James B.A. James in captivity (Photo courtesy of Mr Brian Deacon)
B.A. James

BBC story
Pegasus Archive story
17.04.1915
-
18.01.2008
Ludlow, Shropshire
(A) P/O (prob)
01.05.1939 [42232]
P/O (prob)
09.12.1939
P/O
01.05.1940
(WS) F/O
09.12.1940
(WS) F/Lt.
09.12.1941
F/Lt.
01.01.1943
(A) Sq.Ldr.
(1946)
F/Lt.
09.06.1949, seniority 01.09.1945 (retd 11.06.1958; retaining rank of Sq.Ldr.)
Military Cross MC
17.05.1946
good services as POW *
Mentioned in Despatches MID
07.01.1947
?
01.05.1939


first commission RAF (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
?
-
06.06.1940
pilot, 9 Squadron RAF (Honington, UK)
[his aircraft, a Wellington IA (P9232 WS-M), was hit by Flak on an operation to Duisburg after crossing the Dutch coast; the plane crashed near Simonshaven (near Geervliet, province Zuid-Holland, the Netherlands) and he was taken POW]
06.06.1940
-
06.05.1945
POW in German captivity (Dulag Luft, Oflag XXIB, Stalag Luft I & III, Sachsenhausen and Flossenberg Concentration Camps) & undertook numerous escape attempts (leading figure in "The Great Escape")
01.05.1943


transferred to Reserve of Officers (and called up for active service)
08.05.1947


extended service
09.06.1949


permanent commission
23.07.1949


transferred to the Secretarial Branch
09.12.1952


transferred to the RAF Regiment

 * On the night of 5th June, 1940, Flight Lieutenant James was the 2nd pilot of a Wellington aircraft which was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire and had to be abandoned whilst over Holland. He made a successful parachute descent some 25 miles south of Rotterdam, disposed of his equipment, and evaded some people who were approaching, but subsequently was captured by the Germans. He was held at Qberussel for four days for interrogation. Later he was sent to Stalag Luft I at Earth from which camp he made an attempt to escape during an air raid on 21st October, 1941. His attempt, which was made after a .tunnel had been constructed, was unsuccessful and as a punishment he received 14 days solitary confinement. In November, 1941, he was discovered whilst engaged in the construction of a second tunnel, and was sentenced to another 14 days solitary confinement. While at Stalag Luft I, he worked on the construction of at least five other tunnels, all without success. His next attempt was made whilst at Stalag Luft III (Sagan) in July, 1942, when he, with another prisoner, managed to slip away from a sick parade and hide in a cow shed. Here they began to construct another tunnel, but were discovered when it was 21 feet long. For this, Flight Lieutenant James served a sentence of 14 days in the cells. In April, 1943, he, with others, commenced the construction of a tunnel which resulted in the escape of 76 officers, but unfortunately 50 R.A.F. officers were shot by the Germans whilst endeavouring to get away. Flight Lieutenant James, however, managed to leave with civilian clothes and forged documents and, together with eleven others, entrained for Boberohrsdorf, arriving there the next morning. Here the party decided to split up into pairs. Flight Lieutenant James and his companion walked across country towards Hirschberg, but were apprehended by German Police. Flight Lieutenant James was eventually sent to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp where, with others, in May, 1944, he commenced the construction of a tunnel some hundred feet in length, and 10 feet below the surface. On 23rd September, 1944, he and four others escaped through this tunnel. Flight Lieutenant James and a companion made their way towards Rostock, but were arrested by members of the German Home Guard who returned them -to the Concentration Camp where they were put in cells. Flight Lieutenant James remained in the cells from 6th October, 1944, until 15th February, 1945. He was ultimately liberated by the Allied forces on the 6th May, 1945.

James,
Lionel George
"Jimmy"
L.G. James (Photo courtesy of Mrs Susan Marloye) L.G. James (Photo courtesy of Mrs Susan Marloye)
L.G. James (Photo courtesy of Mrs Susan Marloye) L.G. James (Photo courtesy of Mrs Susan Marloye)
Married 1st (divorced 1947?); one daughter.
Married 2nd; possibly another daughter.
?
-
1963
Australia
F/Sgt.
? [365471]
P/O (prob)
13.06.1940, seniority 25.04.1940 [43821]
F/O
13.06.1941? (retd 26.10.1946; retaining the rank of F/Lt.)
(WS) F/Lt.
13.06.1942, seniority 09.05.1942
13.06.1940


first commission, RAF (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
(1942)


training Spitfire pilots in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia
Served on commercial airliners, BEA/BOAC.
James,
William Edward
W.E. James
26.04.1889
-
Sq.Ldr.
01.07.1936 [13058]
W/Cdr.
01.03.1940 (retd 26.04.1944)
01.04.1918


first commission RAF



qualified at specialist engineering course
Jarvis,
Paul Leonard
P.L. Jarvis P.L. Jarvis

Son of Leonard Norman Jarvis (1879-1960), and Winnefred Homewood (1881-1942), of Haywards Heath, Sussex.
Brother of Lt. (S) Trevor Norman Jarvis, RNVR.

1920?
-
14.05.1940
P/O ? [42609]
       
Jeff,
Robert Voase
R.V. Jeff R.V. Jeff
Son of Ernest and Madge Jeff, of Tenby, Pembrokeshire.
?
-
11.08.1940
(MIA)
[Runnymede Memorial, panel 4]
(A) P/O (prob)
21.12.1936 [39285]
P/O
12.10.1937
F/O
12.04.1939
(A) F/Lt.
31.05.1939
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
08.03.1940
?
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
04.06.1940
*
Croix de Guerre avec Palme (France) CdeG
07.06.1940
?
* This officer was a first class leader who inspired his flight with the offensive spirit and himself shot down five enemy aircraft.
21.12.1936


commissioned, RAF (General Duties Branch) [short service commission]
?
-
11.08.1940
87 Squadron RAF
[1045 hrs: Portland. Hurricane V7231. 87 Squadron Exeter (Aircraft lost at sea); last seen in combat over Channel, failed to return to base]
Johnson,
E C
E.C. Johnson [on group photo shown as such, but no officer serving with that name] (Photo courtesy of Mr David F. Boath)
?
-
P/O (08.1941)
... ...
?     commissioned, RAF
(08.1941)     staff, Officers' School RAF
 
Jones,
Alfred Leslie
A.L. Jones
?
-
?
F/Sgt. ? [365511]
P/O (prob) 09.12.1943 [53695]
09.12.1943     commissioned, RAF (Technical Branch) [emergency commission]
Jones *,
[Sir] Edward Gordon
"Tap"
E.G. Jones
Son of late Lt­Col Dr A. Jones, DSO, MC, MD, DPH.
Married (1938) Margery Thurston Hatfield, BSc;
two sons.

* Later used as last name:
Gordon Jones

31.08.1914
-
20.02.2007
Cambridge
Air Marshal
?


KCB 1967 (CB 1960); CBE 1956 (OBE 1945), DSO 1941; DFC 1941

Education: idc; jssc; qs



served War of 1939-1945 (despatches, DFC, DSO, OBE, Greek DFC)

ACOS (Intelligence), Allied Air Forces Central Europe, 1960-1961; Air Officer Commanding RAF Germany, 1961-1963; Senior RAF Directing Staff, Imperial Defence Coll., 1963-1965; AOC, RAF, Malta, and Dep. C­in­C (Air), Allied Forces, Mediterranean, 1965-1966. Comdr Order of Orange Nassau. Air Officer Commanding­in­Chief, Near East Air Force, and Administrator, Sovereign Base Areas, 1966-1969; Commander, British Forces Near East, 1967-1969; retired 1969.

Jones,
John Rhys
J.R. Jones
?
-
Sq.Ldr.
01.04.1937 [16175]
1930s


CO 54 Squadron
Jones,
Philip
`P. Jones

04.10.1900
-
12.11.1978
Sq.Ldr.
01.12.1936 [16096]
Gp.Capt.
?
A/Cdre.
01.07.1949
Commander of the Order of the British Empire CBE
?
?
Education: MIEE



qualified at specialist signals course
08.1945
-
11.1945
Commanding Officer, RAF Swanton Morley
01.10.1949
-
01.07.1950
Air Officer Commanding, No. 85 Group 
14.02.1953
-
(04.1954)
Air Staff (Signals), Middle East Air Force
Joubert de la Ferté,
Sir Philip Bennet
P.B. Joubert de la Ferté P.B. Joubert de la Ferté
P.B. Joubert de la Ferté P.B. Joubert de la Ferté
P.B. Joubert de la Ferté P.B. Joubert de la Ferté
P.B. Joubert de la Ferté P.B. Joubert de la Ferté

21.05.1887
-
21.01.1965
...
...
Air Marshal
01.07.1936
(T) Air Chief Marshal
01.07.1941?
Air Chief Marshal
14.04.1942 (retd 06.11.1943) (reverted to retd 14.11.1945)
...
-
...
...
29.09.1937
-
(10.)1939
Air Officer Commanding, Royal Air Force India [27.12.1938 renamed: Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Air Forces in India]
1940
-
1940
Special duties - RDF
1940


Air Adviser on Combined Operations
(10.)1940
-
1941
Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Radio)
14.06.1941
-
1943
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Coastal Command
05.02.1943


an Inspector-General of the RAF
23.11.1943
-
1945
Deputy Chief of Staff (Information and Civil Affairs), South East Asia Command
...
-
...
...


A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z