Oliver Swann
| Oliver Swann | |
|---|---|
 Air Vice Marshal Sir Oliver Swann |
|
| Born | 18 November 1878 Wimbledon, London |
| Died | 7 March 1948 (aged 69) Littleton, Guildford |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |  Royal Navy Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1895 – 2 November 1929 2 September 1939 – 20 July 1940 |
| Rank | Air Vice Marshal |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
Air Vice Marshal Sir Oliver Swann KCB, CBE, RAF (18 November 1878 – 7 March 1948), born Oliver Schwann, was a leading figure in the Royal Naval Air Service and senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the first half of the 20th century.
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In 1910 Schwann was selected to assist Captain Murray Sueter who was conducting pioneering naval aviation work with airships.[1] Later, Schwann bought an Avro Type D landplane (at his own expense with support from friends) for £700 and fitted floats to it.[1] Despite not having qualified as a pilot, Schwann managed to fly it off the water.[1] Although Schwann crashed the aircraft, this was the first aircraft take off by a British pilot from salt water.[1]
In November 1912, after Schwann had qualified as a pilot, he was appointed Assistant Director of the Air Department at the Admiralty,[2] making him deputy to Murray Sueter.[1] Over the next two years Sueter and Schwann worked to establish the Royal Naval Air Service.[1]
[edit] World War I
In 1914, just prior to the outbreak of World War I, Schwann was promoted to captain and assigned to port duties.[2] The following year he was appointed captain of the aircraft carrier HMS Campania, a former Cunard liner that had been converted to carry a dozen aircraft.[2] Later in the war, Schwann served as Officer Commanding the Orkneys Division.[2] In 1917 Oliver Schwann anglicized the spelling of his name to Swann.[2] With the establishment of the Royal Air Force in early 1918, Swann was transferred to the new service.[2] He served as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff during the last months of the war and into 1919.[2]
[edit] Inter-war years
In April 1919 Swann was appointed Air Officer Commanding the Mediterranean District and the following year his command was redesignated as the Mediterranean Group.[2] On 1 June 1920, Swann was posted to become Air Officer Commanding Egyptian Group.[2] On his return to Great Britain in early 1923, Swann became Director of Personnel.[2] Later that year his post was retitled Air Member for Personnel when Swann became a member of the Air Council with responsibility for personnel matters.[2] Swann did not spend long at home. On 27 November 1923 Swann was appointed Air Officer Commanding RAF Middle East.[2] He held this post until late 1926 and he retired from the RAF in 1929.[2]
[edit] World War II
During World War II, Swann was recalled to service as the Commandant of No. 1 School of Technical Training at RAF Halton.[2] He retired from the RAF for the second time in July 1940 and afterwards worked as the Air Liaison Officer for the North Midland Region.[2] Swann died only three years after the end of World War II on 7 March 1948 at his home in Littleton, Guildford.[1]
[edit] References
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by R M Groves |
Deputy Chief of the Air Staff 1918 - 1919 |
Succeeded by R M Groves |
| New title Formation established
|
AOC Mediterranean District AOC Mediterranean Group from 1 April 1920 1919 - 1920 |
Succeeded by E L Gerrard |
| Preceded by R M Groves |
Air Officer Commanding Egyptian Group 1920 - 1921 |
Succeeded by B C H Drew |
| Preceded by Unknown |
Director of Personnel Post retitled Air Member for Personnel in 1923 1922 - 1923 |
Succeeded by Sir Philip Game |
| Preceded by E L Ellington |
Air Officer Commanding Middle East Command 1923 - 1926 |
Succeeded by T I Webb-Bowen |
| Preceded by G B Dacre |
Commandant, No. 1 School of Technical Training 1939–1940 |
Succeeded by G B Dacre |
