22 Facts About Thomas Pike

Thomas Pike served in the Second World War as a night fighter squadron commander and then as a station commander.

Thomas Pike was Chief of the Air Staff in the early 1960s and, in that role, deployed British air power as part of the British response to the Brunei Revolt.

Thomas Pike went on to be Deputy Supreme Commander Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in the mid-1960s.

Thomas Pike became an instructor at No 4 Flying Training School at RAF Abu Suwayr in November 1934 and, after attending the RAF Staff College from January 1937, he was promoted to squadron leader on 1 February 1937.

Thomas Pike was posted to No 10 Flying Training School at RAF Ternhill as Chief Flying Instructor in January 1938 and then became a staff officer in the Deputy Directorate of Peace Organisation within the Air Ministry in February 1939.

Thomas Pike served in the Second World War, initially on the air staff within the Directorate of Organisation at the Air Ministry, and was promoted to the temporary rank of wing commander on 1 March 1940.

Thomas Pike was appointed Officer Commanding No 219 Squadron flying Bristol Beaufighters from RAF Tangmere in February 1941 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 13 May 1941 for showing great skill in intercepting enemy aircraft at night, destroying a raiding aircraft on his first night patrol.

Thomas Pike was awarded a bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross on 30 May 1941 for engaging attackers at night when the aerodrome was illuminated by the glare from a large number of incendiary bombs.

Thomas Pike was given command of the Night Fighters of No 11 Group in September 1941 and then went on to be Station Commander at RAF North Weald in February 1942.

Thomas Pike went on to be Senior Air Staff Officer at HQ Desert Air Force in February 1944.

Thomas Pike was awarded the American Officer of the Legion of Merit on 16 October 1945.

Thomas Pike was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1946 New Year Honours.

Thomas Pike was given the acting rank of air vice-marshal on 9 January 1950.

Thomas Pike became Deputy Chief of Staff at HQ Allied Air Forces Central Europe in July 1951, Assistant Chief of Air Staff in June 1953 and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff with the acting rank of air marshal on 9 November 1953.

Thomas Pike was confirmed in the rank of air marshal on 1 January 1955.

Thomas Pike was promoted to air chief marshal on 1 November 1957.

Thomas Pike became Chief of the Air Staff on 1 January 1960.

Thomas Pike was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1961 New Year Honours and promoted to Marshal of the Royal Air Force on 6 April 1962.

Thomas Pike was then Deputy Supreme Commander Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe from January 1964 until his retirement in March 1967.

Thomas Pike was president of the Royal Air Forces Association from 1969 to 1979 and his interests included local history and arranging engineering apprenticeships for local teenagers in Essex.

Thomas Pike died at RAF Halton on 1 June 1983 and, due to his time spent at North Weald, he was buried in the military section of St Andrew's churchyard, North Weald Bassett.

In 1930 Thomas Pike married Kathleen Althea Elwell; they had a son and two daughters.