18 Facts About Keith Williamson

Keith Williamson served with the Royal Australian Air Force flying Meteors in a ground attack role during the Korean War.

Keith Williamson was a squadron commander and then a station commander during the 1960s and a senior air commander in the 1980s.

Keith Williamson was Chief of the Air Staff during the early 1980s at the time of the emergency airlift of food and supplies to Ethiopia.

Keith Williamson enlisted in the Aircraft Apprentice Scheme at RAF Halton in 1945, and was transferred to the Aircraft Apprentice Wing at RAF Cranwell, No 1 Radio School where he joined the 50th Entry and was trained as an Air Radio Fitter.

Keith Williamson was sent to the Advanced Flying School at RAF Driffield, where he trained on Meteors and Vampires and was then posted to No 112 Squadron in July 1951 flying Vampires initially from RAF Fassberg and then from RAF Jever in Germany.

Keith Williamson attended the RAF Staff College in 1962 and was then post to the Air Secretary's department at the Air Ministry.

Keith Williamson was promoted to wing commander on 1 January 1964.

Keith Williamson was given command of No 23 Squadron flying Lightnings from RAF Leuchars in 1966 and became Station Commander at RAF Gutersloh in 1968.

Keith Williamson was awarded the Air Force Cross in the 1968 Birthday Honours, and promoted to group captain on 1 July 1968.

Keith Williamson went on to be Assistant Chief of Staff at SHAPE on 10 March 1977 and then became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Support Command with the acting rank of air marshal on 30 August 1978.

Keith Williamson was promoted to the substantive rank of air marshal on 1 January 1979.

Keith Williamson was made Commander-in-Chief Strike Command with the acting rank of air chief marshal on 15 September 1980.

Keith Williamson was promoted to the substantive rank of air chief marshal on 1 March 1981 and advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1982 Birthday Honours.

Keith Williamson became Chief of the Air Staff on 15 October 1982 and was appointed Air Aide-de-Camp to the Queen on the same day.

Keith Williamson implemented the emergency airlift of food and supplies to Ethiopia in the wake of severe drought, famine and civil war there and advised on the international agreement to proceed with the European Fighter programme.

Keith Williamson was promoted to Marshal of the Royal Air Force on 15 October 1985 and retired the same month.

In retirement Keith Williamson devoted much of his time to the Presidency of the Royal Air Forces Association.

Keith Williamson died on 2 May 2018 at the age of 90.