1. Robert Saundby distinguished himself by gaining five victories during the First World War, and was present during the air battle when Lanoe Hawker was shot down and killed by Manfred von Richthofen, the "Red Baron".
38 Facts About Robert Saundby
1. 2.
Robert Saundby is chiefly remembered for his role as Deputy Air Officer Commanding-on-Chief Bomber Command under Sir Arthur Harris during the latter part of the Second World War.
3.
Robert Henry Magnus Spencer Saundby was born on 26 April 1896 at 83A Edmund Street in Birmingham.
4.
Robert Saundby was the son of Robert Saundby, FRCP, and Edith Mary, Spencer.
5.
Robert Saundby began the First World War serving in the British Army.
6.
Robert Saundby's flying career began at Thetford in Norfolk as part of No 12 Reserve Squadron on 28 February 1916.
7.
Robert Saundby then attended the Central Flying School at Upavon.
8.
Robert Saundby saw further service with No 40 Squadron at Gosport.
9.
Robert Saundby became a qualified pilot and joined Britain's first single-seater fighter squadron, No 24 Squadron RFC, in its original complement under famous Major Lanoe Hawker, flying the Airco DH2 on the Western Front.
10.
Robert Saundby is remembered on the Arras Flying Services Memorial.
11.
Robert Saundby transferred from No 24 Squadron to No 41 Squadron on 26 January 1917.
12.
Robert Saundby had shot down 9 aircraft over the Western Front by this point.
13.
On 13 April 1917 Robert Saundby was at Orford Ness RFC Experimental Station, England.
14.
Robert Saundby had lived there since 1928 and had his own construction company.
15.
In 1919 Robert Saundby received a permanent commission into the Royal Air Force.
16.
Between 1919 and 1925, Robert Saundby moved slowly through the ranks of the newly formed RAF, while gaining experience of command.
17.
Robert Saundby flew as co-pilot for the then Squadron Leader Arthur Harris, when the latter developed a locally improvised bombing capability for the Vernon.
18.
Robert Saundby moved on to become an instructor in Egypt with No 4 Flying Training School at Abu Sueir, Egypt.
19.
Robert Saundby's move towards the upper command ranks of the RAF was initiated when he joined No 58 Squadron as a Flight Commander on 15 October 1926.
20.
At the rank of wing commander, Robert Saundby attended the Imperial Defence College in 1933.
21.
Robert Saundby worked for two years at the RAF Staff College, Andover as an instructor.
22.
Robert Saundby held these posts between 1938 and 1940, rising to Air Vice-Marshall in this period.
23.
Robert Saundby served under Air Marshal Richard Peirse, and continued in this position when Peirse was replaced with Arthur Harris in February 1942.
24.
February 1943 saw Robert Saundby appointed to the post of deputy air officer commanding-in-chief.
25.
Robert Saundby was an advocate for the strategy of attacking German military industries and the morale of the German population by bombing German industrial areas and cities.
26.
Robert Saundby was a key deputy for Harris throughout the remainder of the war.
27.
Robert Saundby retired on medical grounds from the RAF on 22 March 1946.
28.
The medical grounds for Robert Saundby's retirement were the result of injuries sustained in a crash 30 years previously.
29.
Robert Saundby was awarded the Order of Leopold II with Palme and Croix de Guerre for services in the liberation of Belgium.
30.
Robert Saundby devoted much of his retirement to his role as Vice-Chairman, Council of Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association, for which he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.
31.
Robert Saundby was the chair of the council of Royal Air Forces Association, president of the Royal British Legion and in 1960 was appointed deputy-lieutenant for Berkshire.
32.
Robert Saundby was a keen lepidopterist and a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society.
33.
Robert Saundby's collection was described as "a model of good arrangement and documentation", and was presented to the Natural History Museum in London.
34.
Robert Saundby had many hobbies, and wrote several books on differing subjects including his role in the RAF during the war and Steam Engines.
35.
Robert Saundby died on 26 September 1971 at Edgecombe Nursing Home, Hamstead Marshall in Berkshire.
36.
Robert Saundby's ashes were scattered by the River Avon at Netheravon.
37.
Robert Saundby appears in the wartime propaganda file Target for Tonight.
38.
Robert Saundby was portrayed in the 1989 television drama Bomber Harris by Bernard Kay.