Thomas Traill began his military career as a midshipman in the Royal Navy, transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and rose to the rank of captain during the First World War, becoming a flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.
21 Facts About Thomas Traill
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Thomas Traill remained in the newly formed Royal Air Force after the war; by the time he retired in 1954, he had risen to the rank of air vice marshal.
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Thomas Cathcart Traill was born on 6 August 1899 in Argentina.
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Thomas Traill attended school at the Royal Naval Colleges at Osborne and Dartmouth.
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Thomas Traill transferred to the Royal Flying Corps to train as a pilot, and after completion of training was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant on probation on 11 October 1917.
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Thomas Traill was promoted to lieutenant on 1 April 1918, as the Royal Air Force came into existence.
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Thomas Traill was promoted to temporary captain when he was appointed as a flight commander on 28 September 1918.
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Thomas Traill remained in military service, becoming the assistant air attache in Washington DC in 1919.
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Thomas Traill returned home to Britain the following year, being assigned to experimental work beginning 18 May 1920.
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Thomas Traill entered the University of Cambridge on 1 October 1922, receiving a Master of Arts in 1924.
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Thomas Traill was promoted to squadron leader on 1 December 1934.
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Thomas Traill was appointed to the command of No 14 Squadron RAF on 16 August 1935, moving on to command RAF Helwan, Egypt on 10 May 1938.
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Thomas Traill was promoted to wing commander on 1 July 1938.
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On 14 May 1940, Thomas Traill was appointed assistant senior air staff officer at Headquarters Bomber Command.
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Thomas Traill was appointed director of air tactics on 28 February 1944, and selected as the RAF's liaison officer to the United States Army Air Forces' Eighth Air Force that same year.
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Thomas Traill was made of Officer of the American Legion of Merit on 11 April 1944, and was again Mentioned in Despatches on 8 June 1944.
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On 1 September 1945, Thomas Traill became an acting air vice-marshal and was granted command of No 83 Group RAF.
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Thomas Traill moved to command of No 12 Group RAF on 5 May 1946.
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Thomas Traill was appointed an Officer of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath on 1 January 1948.
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Thomas Traill retired on 21 September 1954, having served for 40 years.
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Thomas Traill died on 1 October 1973, and was buried in Saint Margaret Churchyard, Heveningham, Suffolk, England.