1. Air Marshal George Mitchell Croil CBE, AFC was an American-born Canadian Royal Flying Corps pilot during World War I who went on to become the first Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
17 Facts About George Croil
1. 2.
George Croil was born on June 5,1893, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
3.
George Croil was a first cousin of US Major General Billy Mitchell, who, like George Croil, was a pioneer of military aviation in the US.
4.
When George Croil was 11 years old, his family moved to Canada and settled in Montreal, Quebec, where he attended Westmount Academy from 1903 to 1907.
5.
From 1907 to 1911, George Croil lived in Scotland, studying at Robert Gordon's College in Aberdeen.
6.
In 1912 George Croil moved to Ratnapura, Ceylon where he gained employment as an assistant superintendent with the Mahawale Tea and Rubber Estate until 1914, where he maintained machinery and supervised workers.
7.
George Croil was commissioned, serving as a machine gun officer in the 5th Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders.
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Billy Mitchell 8.
In May 1916, George Croil was detached to the Royal Flying Corps and undertook a two-month period of flying training.
9.
On successfully completing the course and receiving his pilot's wings in July 1916, George Croil was seconded from the Gordon Highlanders to the Royal Flying Corps with the temporary rank of captain.
10.
George Croil became a member of the Canadian Air Board in June 1920 and played a key role in the establishment of air bases at Morley and High River in Alberta.
11.
George Croil went on to become one of the founding officers of the Royal Canadian Air Force at the time of its establishment in 1924.
12.
George Croil took a course of training at the RAF Staff College, Andover.
13.
In 1938, George Croil succeeded in ensuring the RCAF's separation from the Army, and his post was upgraded to Chief of the Air Staff as a result.
14.
George Croil reported directly to the Minister of National Defence.
15.
George Croil remained as Chief of the Air Staff until 1940 when he was forced to resign after a falling out with Charles Gavan Power, then-Minister of Defence for Air.
16.
George Croil then served as the Inspector-General of the Royal Canadian Air Force until 1944.
17.
George Croil died on April 8,1959, in Vancouver, British Columbia.