33 Facts About Michael Beetham

At the time of his death, Beetham was one of only six people holding his service's most senior rank and, excluding Prince Philip's honorary rank, he had the longest time in that rank, making him the senior Marshal of the Royal Air Force.

The son of Major G C Beetham MC, Beetham was born in London on 17 May 1923.

Michael Beetham was promoted to flying officer in the RAFVR on 13 June 1943.

Michael Beetham survived the Nuremberg Raid in which many Bomber Command aircraft were destroyed.

In February 1944, whilst Michael Beetham was on a training flight, one of his aircraft's engines caught fire.

In May 1944 Michael Beetham was posted to a flying instruction role.

Michael Beetham returned to operation duties with 57 Squadron just as the war in Europe was coming to an end.

Michael Beetham was involved in dropping supplies to the Dutch and in the repatriation of prisoners-of-war.

In November 1945, just after the end of the Second World War, Michael Beetham was posted to No 35 Squadron which was then selected to carry out the victory fly-past and conduct a good-will tour of the United States.

Michael Beetham was granted a permanent commission in the RAF on 1 September 1945 in the rank of flying officer, and was promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 July 1946 with seniority from 13 June 1945.

Michael Beetham was posted to No 82 Squadron in East Africa in 1949, promoted to squadron leader on 1 January 1952 and attended the RAF Staff College, Andover that year.

Michael Beetham was awarded a King's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in the 1952 New Year Honours.

In 1953, Michael Beetham was posted to the Air Ministry's Operational Requirements Branch.

Notably, Michael Beetham drafted the first specification for the TSR 2.

The open-air nuclear test explosions witnessed by Michael Beetham led him to the view that it would never be possible to limit the extent of a nuclear war.

Michael Beetham was promoted to wing commander on 1 January 1958 and he then took up the post of Officer Commanding No 214 Squadron.

In July 1959 Wing Commander Michael Beetham captained the first aircraft, a Valiant bomber, to fly non-stop from the United Kingdom to Cape Town.

Michael Beetham was awarded the Air Force Cross in the 1960 New Year Honours.

Michael Beetham was promoted to air commodore on 1 July 1966.

Michael Beetham was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1967 New Year Honours.

Michael Beetham was promoted to air vice-marshal on 1 January 1971, and appointed Assistant Chief of Staff at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in 1972 and to Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Strike Command in 1975, for which he was promoted to acting air marshal on 10 June 1975.

Michael Beetham was promoted to air marshal on 1 July 1975, knighted with the Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1976 New Year Honours and appointed Commander-in-Chief RAF Germany and Commander of the Second Tactical Air Force in 1976.

Michael Beetham was promoted to a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1978 New Year Honours list.

Michael Beetham worked to build up the RAF's reserve forces.

Towards the end of his tenure as Chief of the Air Staff, the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands occurred: at the time Michael Beetham was acting Chief of the Defence Staff and as such he was involved in the decision to send the Task Force to the South Atlantic.

When Michael Beetham relinquished his appointment in October 1982 he had served for more than five years, making him the longest serving Chief of the Air Staff since Trenchard.

Michael Beetham was promoted to Marshal of the Royal Air Force on 15 October 1982.

From 1986 to 1990 Michael Beetham was Chairman of GEC Avionics.

Michael Beetham held the appointment of Honorary Air Commodore of No 2620 Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment.

Michael Beetham was President of the Society of Friends of the RAF Museum.

In 2005, Michael Beetham took part in his second fly-past over London, this time as part of the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Michael Beetham joined the crew of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster bomber prior to its takeoff from Duxford.

Marshal of the RAF Michael Beetham died on 24 October 2015, aged 92.