Allegiance United Kingdom Died March 29, 1993 Years of service 1927–1961 Battles and wars World War II | Battles/wars Second World War Service/branch Royal Air Force Name Sidney Bufton Rank Air vice-marshal | |
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Born 12 January 1908 ( 1908-01-12 ) Commands held British Forces Aden (1953–55)
Central Bomber Establishment (1947–48)
RAF Pocklington (1941)
No. 76 Squadron (1941)
No. 10 Squadron (1940–41) Awards Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Flying Cross
Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)
Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands) Other work High Sheriff of Radnorshire
Managing Director of Radionic Ltd | ||
Air Vice Marshal Sidney Osborne Bufton, (12 January 1908 – 29 March 1993) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the middle part of the 20th century. He played a major part in establishing the Pathfinder project, over the objections of Arthur Harris.
RAF career
Bufton joined the Royal Air Force in 1927. As a young man he was a Welsh International Hockey player (1931–1937) as well as playing for the RAF and the Combined Services. He served in World War II as Officer Commanding No. 10 Squadron and then as Officer Commanding No. 76 Squadron before becoming Station Commander at RAF Pocklington in 1941. He continued his war service as Deputy Director and then as Director of Bomber Operations. He was responsible for conceiving and forming the Pathfinder Force despite opposition from Arthur Harris.. He headed the preparations for the ill-fated Operation Thunderclap and for the air warfare against cities and civilians in German-occupied Europe.
After the War he was appointed Commandant of the Central Bomber Establishment and then Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations and Plans) at Headquarters Air Forces Western Europe in 1948. He was made Director of Weapons at the Air Ministry in 1951, Air Officer Administration at Headquarters Bomber Command in 1952 and Air Officer Commanding at British Forces Aden in 1953. His last appointments were as Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Bomber Command in 1955 and as Assistant Chief of Staff (Intelligence) at the Air Ministry in 1958 before retiring in 1961.
After retiring from the RAF, he joined Radionic Ltd. as an inventor and later became Managing Director until 1970.