Lawrence Darvall

Air Marshal Sir Lawrence (Johnny) Darvall, KCB, MC (24 November 1898 – 17 November 1968) was a senior Royal Air Force officer.

Sir Lawrence Darvall
Born	24 November 1898 Uxbridge, Middlesex, England
Died	17 November 1968 Surrey, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army (1918–21) Royal Air Force (1921–56)
Years of service	1918–1956
Rank	Air Marshal
Commands held	RAF Hawkinge RAF Andover No. 2 Flying Instructors School No. 46 Group No. 216 Group Air Headquarters Italy No. 3 Group No. 23 Group Joint Services Staff College NATO Defense College
Battles/wars	First World War Second World War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Military Cross

RAF career

Darvall was commissioned into the Green Howards on 16 August 1916 during the First World War.[1] After transferring to the RAF as a flying officer in 1919,[2] he became officer commanding, RAF Hawkinge in April 1939.[1] He served in the Second World War as officer commanding, RAF Andover from October 1939, officer commanding, No. 2 Flying Instructors School at RAF Cranwell from September 1940 and as Director of Air Transport Policy and Operations from 1943.[1] He went on to be Air Officer Commanding, No. 46 Group in September 1944 and Air Officer Commanding, No. 216 Group in June 1945.[1]

After the war he became Air Officer Commanding, Air Headquarters Italy in June 1946, Air Officer Commanding, No. 3 Group in March 1947 and Air Officer Commanding, Headquarters, RAF Flying Training Command in January 1949.[1] After that he became Air Officer Commanding, No. 23 Group in February 1950, Commandant of the Joint Services Staff College in 1951 and Commandant of the NATO Defense College in Paris in November 1953 before retiring in April 1956.[1]

He was granted the right to retain his rank of air marshal on his retirement.[3]

References

1. "Air Marshal Sir Lawrence Darvall". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
2. "No. 31879". The London Gazette. 27 April 1920. p. 4851.
3. "No. 40797". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 1956. p. 3304.