Allegiance United Kingdom Rank Air marshal Died March 20, 1979 | Name John Babington Years of service 1908–1944 | |
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Born 20 July 1891 ( 1891-07-20 ) Service/branch Royal Navy
Royal Air Force Commands held RAF Technical Training Command (1941–43)
RAF Far East Command (1938–41)
No. 24 Group (1936–38)
RAF Halton (1934–36)
RAF Gosport (1927–28)
No. 7 Squadron RNAS (1917–19) Battles/wars First World War
Second World War Awards Distinguished Service Order | ||
Battles and wars World War I, World War II | ||
Air Marshal Sir John Tremayne Babington, (20 July 1891 – 20 March 1979) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force. In 1944, he retired and the following year changed his name to Tremayne, his mother's maiden name, to avoid confusion with his younger brother. He was the elder brother of Philip Babington.
RAF career
Babington was commissioned as a Midshipman in the Royal Navy in 1908. During the First World War, Babington was a member of the Royal Naval Air Service. He participated in the air raid on the Friedrichshaven Airship Factory, Germany on 21 November 1914. On 2 January 1920, Babington was removed from the Navy List and awarded a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force. He was appointed Station Commander at RAF Gosport in 1927 and went on to be a Station Commander in Iraq in January 1929 before becoming British Air Representative to the League of Nations in November 1929. He became Station Commander of RAF Halton and Commandant, No. 1 School of Technical Training in 1934, Air Officer Commanding No. 24 Group in 1936 and Air Officer Commanding, RAF Far East Command in 1938.
He served in the Second World War as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Technical Training Command and then Head of RAF Mission in Moscow before retiring in 1944.
In retirement served as High Sheriff of Cornwall.