Nisha Rathode (Editor)

William Coles (RAF officer)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Allegiance
  
United Kingdom

Role
  
RAF officer

Rank
  
Air marshal

Name
  
William Coles

Service/branch
  
Royal Air Force

Battles/wars
  
Second World War

Battles and wars
  
World War II

Years of service
  
1938–1968

Died
  
June 7, 1979


Born
  
26 July 1913 (
1913-07-26
)

Commands held
  
Technical Training Command (1966–68) No. 23 (Training) Group (1960–63) RAF Middleton St. George (1950–51) No. 233 Squadron (1944–45) No. 117 Squadron (1943–44)

Awards
  
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Air Force Cross Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)

Air Marshal Sir William Edward Coles & Bar, AFC (26 July 1913 – 7 June 1979) was a Royal Air Force officer who served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Technical Training Command from 1966 to 1968.

RAF career

Coles joined the Royal Air Force in 1938. He served in the Second World War as Officer Commanding No. 117 Squadron and as Officer Commanding No. 233 Squadron. After the war he became a Staff Officer at the Air Ministry before joining the Central Flying School. He was appointed Station Commander at RAF Middleton St. George in 1950, Chief Flying Instructor at the Central Flying School in 1951 and Air Adviser to the High Commissioner to Australia in 1953. He went on to be Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters No. 3 (Bomber) Group in 1957, Air Officer Commanding No. 23 (Training) Group in 1960 and Director-General of RAF Personal Services in 1963. His last appointment was as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Technical Training Command in 1966 before retiring in 1968.

In retirement he became President of the Not Forgotten Association and Controller of the RAF Benevolent Fund.

References

William Coles (RAF officer) Wikipedia