1. John Grandy was the only officer who fought and commanded a squadron during the Battle of Britain to reach the post of Chief of the Air Staff.
26 Facts About John Grandy
1. 2.
John Grandy was confirmed in the rank of pilot officer on 11 September 1932 and promoted to flying officer on 11 June 1933.
3.
John Grandy became Adjutant of No 604 Squadron at RAF Hendon in April 1935 and attended the Instructors' Course at the Central Flying School in January 1936.
4.
John Grandy was promoted to flight lieutenant on 11 June 1936 and was posted to the University of London Air Squadron as Adjutant in January 1937.
5.
John Grandy served in the Second World War, initially as Squadron Commander at No 13 Flying Training School.
6.
John Grandy's squadron shot down more German aircraft than any other squadron during the Battle of Britain, one of his pilots winning the Victoria Cross.
7.
John Grandy was promoted to wing commander on a temporary basis on 1 March 1941 and in November 1941 he was sent to RAF Duxford where he was given command of flying operations.
8.
John Grandy was promoted to wing commander on a war substantive basis on 12 August 1942 and mentioned in despatches on 1 January 1943.
9.
John Grandy was given command of No 210 Group RAF defending the Port of Tripoli in February 1943 and then went to Egypt to command No 73 Operational Training Unit at RAF Abu Suwayr in September 1943.
10.
John Grandy became Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters No 232 Group in September 1945 and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 19 October 1945.
11.
John Grandy was promoted to group captain on a substantive basis on 1 January 1950, before becoming Officer Commanding the Northern Sector of Fighter Command in November 1950.
12.
John Grandy joined the Air Staff in the Operations Directorate at Headquarters Fighter Command in May 1952 and went on to be Commandant of the Central Fighter Establishment in December 1954.
13.
John Grandy was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1956 Birthday Honours and promoted to air commodore on 1 January 1956.
14.
John Grandy attended Imperial Defence College in early 1957 and then became Commander of Operation Grapple in September 1957.
15.
John Grandy was promoted to acting air vice marshal on 6 December 1957 and became Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in October 1958.
16.
John Grandy was confirmed in the rank of air vice marshal on 1 July 1958.
17.
John Grandy was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1961 Birthday Honours and confirmed in the rank of air marshal on 1 January 1962.
18.
John Grandy was promoted to air chief marshal on 1 April 1965.
19.
Advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1967 New Year Honours and appointed an honorary Commander of the Malaysian Order of the Defender of the Realm, John Grandy became Chief of the Air Staff on 1 April that year.
20.
John Grandy was the only officer who fought and commanded a squadron during the Battle of Britain to reach the post of Chief of the Air Staff.
21.
John Grandy retired on 31 March 1971 and was promoted to Marshal of the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1971.
22.
John Grandy served as Governor of Gibraltar from 3 October 1973 to 30 May 1978 and then as Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle from 11 August 1978 to 9 February 1988.
23.
John Grandy was appointed a Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John on 31 January 1974 and a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in the 1988 New Year Honours.
24.
John Grandy was Chairman of the Trustees of the Imperial War Museum.
25.
John Grandy died, following a stroke, at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough on 2 January 2004.
26.
John Grandy's interests included golf and his membership of the Royal Yacht Squadron.