13 Facts About Richard Atcherley

Richard Atcherley served as Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Pakistan Air Force from 1949 to 1951.

Richard Atcherley and his twin David were born on 12 January 1904.

The Atcherley twins were first cousins of William Empson, a literary critic and poet, and both attended Oundle School in Northamptonshire.

In 1922, Richard Atcherley attended the RAF College Cranwell and was commissioned two years later.

Richard Atcherley initially served as a pilot on No 29 Squadron, flying Snipes out of Duxford.

In 1925, Richard Atcherley attended the Central Flying School and then returned to his squadron as both a pilot and a qualified flying instructor.

Richard Atcherley was a member of the RAF team that competed for the Schneider Trophy in 1929.

Richard Atcherley was appointed Officer Commanding No 219 Squadron in October 1939 and then became Officer Commanding the Air Element of the British Expeditionary Force in Norway in May 1940.

Richard Atcherley went on to be Station Commander at RAF Drem in Scotland in June 1940 in which year he was awarded the Air Force Cross.

Richard Atcherley was awarded a bar to his Air Force Cross on 24 September 1941.

Richard Atcherley was promoted to temporary group captain on 27 March 1942.

Richard Atcherley spent the closing stages of the War as Commandant of the Fighter Leaders' School and then as Commandant of the Central Fighter Establishment.

Richard Atcherley went on to be Head of the RAF Staff in Washington DC in 1953 and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Flying Training Command in 1955 before retiring in 1959.