List of Royal Air Force members
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This article lists those members of the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom who have become either nationally or internationally famous. This could either be due to commanding squadrons or higher formations in memorable operations, by being awarded high honours or by gaining fame subsequent to their RAF service.
[edit] Famous RAF Personnel
- John Baldwin, a British ace of the RAF
- Lord Trenchard - founding father of the RAF
- Lord Tedder - U.S. General Eisenhower's deputy who received Germany's surrender at the end of the war in Europe
- Lord Dowding - Commander in Chief (CINC), RAF Fighter Command during Battle of Britain
- Sir Arthur "Bomber" Harris - CINC, RAF Bomber Command during World War II
- Sir Douglas Bader - Amputee and Fighter pilot
- Sir Keith Park - New Zealander - AOC 11 Group during Battle of Britain
- Sir Frank Whittle - Co-inventor of the turbojet
- Guy Gibson - Dambusters raid leader and VC holder
- Andy Green - Land speed record holder after driving Thrust SSC past the sound barrier.
- Leonard Cheshire - Charity founder and VC holder
- Henry Allingham - World War I veteran and last surviving founder member of the RAF
- Winston Churchill - Was created an honorary Air Commodore of No. 615 Squadron during World War II,[1] and wore his RAF uniform on many notable occasions during the war (such as his visit to North Africa and a state visit to meet Joseph Stalin)
- Prince William, Duke of Cambridge - Serves as a Sea King pilot in the Search and Rescue Force.
[edit] Famous people who previously served in the RAF
- Richard Attenborough - Actor and director
- David Bailey (photographer)
- Ralph Barker - Writer
- Alan Bates - Actor
- Raymond Baxter - Television presenter and commentator
- Tony Benn - British politician
- Frank Bossard - M16 personnel who spied for the USSR
- Richard Burton - Actor, served as a navigator
- Arthur C. Clarke - Science fiction author
- Alex Coomber - Bronze medalist in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
- Roald Dahl - Author. A flying ace who rose to the rank of Wing Commander
- Denholm Elliot - Actor
- Bruce Barrymore Halpenny-British military historian and Author, served Royal Air Force Police
- Tony Hancock - Comic actor (RAF Regiment)
- Rex Harrison - Actor, reached the rank of Flight Lieutenant
- Godfrey Hounsfield - Nobel laureate and co-inventor of Computed tomography.
- George Hutchinson - Professionel footballer
- Peter Imbert - Police Officer, served Royal Air Force Police
- T. E. Lawrence - 'Lawrence of Arabia'. Enlisted first as Aircraftman J.H Ross, and later as Aircraftman T.E Shaw
- Peter Larter - England rugby player
- Christopher Lee - Actor, reached the rank of Flight Lieutenant
- Warren Mitchell - Actor
- Bob Monkhouse - Entertainer, comedian, game show host
- Patrick Moore - Astronomer, broadcaster and author
- Frank Muir - Comic writer
- Alex Murphy (rugby league) Great Britain rugby league player
- Peter Sellers - Comedian and actor, gained the NCO rank of Corporal
- Ian Smith - Rhodesian Prime Minister
- Tony Walton - set/costume designer, director
- Norman Tebbit - British politician
- Rory Underwood - England rugby player
- Martin Whitcombe - England 'B' rugby player
- Bill Wyman- Bass player, Rolling Stones
- Jeff Young (rugby player) - Welsh rugby player
[edit] References
- ^ "Questions Answered: Winston Churchill in uniform and Ralph or Rafe". The Times. 13 September 2008. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/court_and_social/article4742261.ece. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
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