26 Facts About Dermot Boyle

Dermot Boyle served in the Second World War initially as a staff officer with the Advanced Air Striking Force in Reims in which capacity he organised the evacuation of the Force through Brest in May 1940.

Dermot Boyle was Chief of the Air Staff in the late 1950s and, in that role, deployed British air power during the Suez Crisis in October 1956 and defended the RAF against the views of Duncan Sandys, the Minister for Defence, who believed that the V bomber force rendered manned fighter aircraft redundant.

Dermot Boyle transferred to No 1 Squadron at RAF Hinaidi in Iraq to undertake air policing duties in December 1925 and, having been promoted to flying officer on 31 January 1926, he transferred again this time to No 6 Squadron at RAF Mosul in Iraq in November 1926.

Dermot Boyle attended the Flying Instructor's Course at the Central Flying School in March 1927 and then became a Qualified Flying Instructor there the following month.

Dermot Boyle was made Assistant Adjutant at No 601 Squadron at RAF Hendon on 5 October 1929 and was promoted to flight lieutenant on 13 October 1929.

Dermot Boyle became a Qualified Flying Instructor at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in January 1930 and then returned to No 601 Squadron as Adjutant in January 1931.

Dermot Boyle joined the Personnel Staff at Headquarters RAF India in April 1933 and then attended the RAF Staff College in 1936.

Dermot Boyle went on to be Chief Flying Instructor at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in July 1937 and was awarded the Air Force Cross on 8 June 1939.

Dermot Boyle served in the Second World War, initially as a Staff Officer at Headquarters of the Advanced Air Striking Force in Reims, and was promoted to the temporary rank of wing commander on 1 January 1940.

Dermot Boyle joined the Air Staff responsible for operations at Headquarters RAF Bomber Command in June 1940 and again became Officer Commanding No 83 Squadron in November 1940 now based at RAF Scampton and flying Hampden bombers.

Dermot Boyle went on to be Assistant Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence in February 1941 and was mentioned in despatches on 1 January 1941 and again on 24 September 1941.

Dermot Boyle was mentioned in despatches again on 2 June 1943 and promoted to group captain on a war substantive basis on 17 November 1943.

Dermot Boyle was appointed Air Aide-de-Camp to the King on 1 January 1944 and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1945 New Year Honours.

Dermot Boyle became Air Officer Commanding No 85 Group, responsible for the various support units within Second Tactical Air Force, with the acting rank of air vice marshal, on 26 April 1945 and went on to be Air Officer Commanding No 11 Group in July 1945.

Dermot Boyle appointed a Commander of the Order of the Crown with Palms and awarded the Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palms by the Prince Regent of Belgium on 11 July 1947 for his role in liberating Belgium.

Dermot Boyle attended Imperial Defence College in 1946 and became Assistant Commandant of the RAF Staff College, Bracknell in January 1947 before being promoted to the air commodore on 1 July 1947.

Dermot Boyle became Director-General of Personnel at the Air Ministry with the acting rank of air vice marshal on 26 July 1948 and Director General of Manning at the Air Ministry in August 1949.

Dermot Boyle went on to be Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group in April 1951 and was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1953 New Year Honours.

Dermot Boyle became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Fighter Command with the acting rank of air marshal on 7 April 1953 and, having attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order on 16 July 1953 and confirmed in the rank of air marshal on 1 January 1954.

Dermot Boyle became Chief of the Air Staff and was promoted to air chief marshal on 1 January 1956, the first graduate of the RAF College Cranwell to be appointed to this post.

Dermot Boyle was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1957 New Year Honours and promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Royal Air Force on 1 January 1958 before retiring in January 1960.

In retirement Dermot Boyle became vice-chairman of the British Aircraft Corporation.

Dermot Boyle was instrumental in founding the RAF Museum at Hendon and became the first chairman of its trustees.

Dermot Boyle was vice-chairman of the RAF Benevolent Fund for most of the 1970s and President of the Royal Air Force Club.

Dermot Boyle died at Sway in Hampshire on 5 May 1993.

Dermot Boyle married Una Carey in 1931; they had two sons and a daughter.