21 Facts About Andrew Humphrey

Andrew Humphrey fought in the Second World War as a fighter pilot taking part in the Battle of Britain and took part in the withdrawal from Aden in November 1967.

Andrew Humphrey served as the Chief of the Air Staff advising the new Labour Government on the implementation of their latest Defence Review.

Andrew Humphrey then served as Chief of the Defence Staff but caught pneumonia within three months of taking office and died shortly afterwards.

The son of John Humphrey CBE and his wife, Agnes Florence Humphrey, Humphrey was born on 10 January 1921 in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh.

Andrew Humphrey was educated at Belhaven Hill School in Dunbar and Bradfield College.

Andrew Humphrey joined the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in January 1939 and was granted a permanent commission as a pilot officer on 30 April 1940.

Andrew Humphrey was promoted to the war substantive rank of flying officer on 1 May 1941.

Andrew Humphrey became a Flight Commander with No 175 Squadron flying Hurricanes from RAF Warmwell in March 1942 and was promoted to the war substantive rank of flight lieutenant on 1 May 1942 before returning to RAF Grangemouth in July 1942.

Andrew Humphrey became a Flight Commander with No 6 Squadron, flying Hurricanes in North Africa in July 1943, and was promoted to flight lieutenant on a permanent basis on 7 September 1943.

Andrew Humphrey became an instructor at No 5 Middle East Training School at RAF Shallufa in Egypt in January 1944 before being posted to the staff at RAF Nicosia in Cyprus in June 1944 and then to the staff at RAF Ranchi in India in November 1944.

Andrew Humphrey was awarded a Bar to the Air Force Cross on 1 January 1945, and promoted to the war substantive rank of squadron leader on 20 February 1945.

Andrew Humphrey was confirmed in the rank of squadron leader on a permanent basis on 1 August 1947.

Andrew Humphrey attended RAF Staff College in 1955 and was awarded a second Bar to his Air Force Cross in the 1955 Birthday Honours.

Andrew Humphrey was posted to the Directorate of Operational Requirements at the Air Ministry in February 1956 where he was elevated to deputy director before being promoted to group captain on 1 July 1957 and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1959 Birthday Honours.

Andrew Humphrey became Officer Commanding RAF Akrotiri in February 1959 and then attended the Imperial Defence College in 1962 before being promoted to air commodore on 1 July 1962.

Andrew Humphrey became Director of Joint Plans at the Air Ministry in November 1962 and then Director of Defence Plans at the Ministry of Defence in April 1964 Promoted to air vice marshal on 1 January 1965, he became Air Officer Commanding Air Forces Middle East on 15 December 1965 and, following the withdrawal from Aden in November 1967, he was mentioned in despatches for his services in operations there on 23 January 1968.

Andrew Humphrey went on to be Air Member for Personnel with the acting rank of air marshal on 18 March 1968 and advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1968 Birthday Honours.

Andrew Humphrey was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1974 New Year Honours.

Andrew Humphrey was appointed Air Aide-de-Camp to the Queen on 31 March 1974 and Chief of the Air Staff on 1 April 1974.

Andrew Humphrey died in the RAF Hospital at Halton on 24 January 1977.

In March 1952 Andrew Humphrey married Agnes Stevenson Wright; there were no children.