Peter Bairsto
Sir Peter Bairsto | |
---|---|
Born | 3 August 1926 |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Navy (1944–46) Royal Air Force (1946–84) |
Years of service | 1944–84 |
Rank | Air Marshal |
Service number | 202703 |
Commands held | Northern Maritime Air Region (1980–81) |
Battles/wars | Second World War |
Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Air Force Cross Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air (2) |
Air Marshal Sir Peter Edward Bairsto, KBE, CB, AFC, DL (born 3 August 1926) is a former Royal Air Force officer who served as Deputy Commander of Strike Command from 1981 until his retirement in 1984.
Early life
Bairsto was born on 3 August 1926. He was educated at Rhyl Grammar School.
Military career
Bairsto joined the Royal Navy in 1944 and transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1946[1] as an aircraftman. He was commissioned into the RAF Regiment with the rank of pilot officer (on probation) on 10 May 1946.[2] On 10 November 1946, his commission was confirmed and he was promoted to flying officer (war substantive).[3]
On 17 July 1947, with the end of Second World War active service, he reverted to pilot officer with seniority from 10 May 1946.[4] On 1 November 1947, he was promoted to flying officer.[5] He transferred to the General Duties Branch, the branch containing navigators and pilots, on 12 December 1951 as a flying officer with seniority from that date.[6] He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 August 1953,[7] was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in the 1955 New Year Honours[8] and an Air Force Cross in the 1957 New Year Honours.[9] In the half-yearly promotions of 1958, on 1 July, he was promoted to squadron leader.[10] In the 1960 Birthday Honours, Bairsto was awarded a further Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.[11]
He was promoted to group captain on 1 January 1969,[12] and to air commodore on 1 July 1973 in the half-yearly promotions.[13] He became Director of Operational Requirements in 1973,[14] Senior Air Staff Officer at Support Command in 1977[15] (retitled Air Officer, Training Group at RAF Support Command in 1978)[16] and Commander of the Northern Maritime Air Region in 1980.[17] He went on to be Deputy Commander of Strike Command in 1981,[18] and retired in 1984.[19]
Later life
In retirement, Bairsto became an advisor to Ferranti Group.[1] He also served as Deputy Lieutenant of Fife.[20]
Personal life
In 1947, he married Kathleen Clarbour; they had two sons and one daughter.[1] Following the death of his first wife in 2008,[21] he married Pamela Braid (née Gibson) on 15 May 2010 at Hope Park Parish Church, St Andrews.[22]
By July 1973, he was a Member of the British Institute of Management (MBIM).[13] He was Honorary Colonel of the 79 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) until 3 August 1992.[23]
References
- ^ a b c Debrett's People of Today 1994
- ^ "No. 37605". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 7 June 1946. - ^ "No. 37804". The London Gazette (invalid
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(help)). 29 November 1946. - ^ "No. 38142". The London Gazette. 5 December 1947.
- ^ "No. 38194". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 30 January 1948. - ^ "No. 39499". The London Gazette (invalid
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(help)). 21 March 1952. - ^ "No. 39935". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 7 August 1953. - ^ "No. 40366". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 31 December 1954. - ^ "No. 40960". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 28 December 1956. - ^ "No. 41433". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 1 July 1958. - ^ "No. 42051". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 3 June 1960. - ^ "No. 44760". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 3 January 1969. - ^ a b "No. 46029". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 17 July 1973. - ^ Senior Royal Air Force Appointments
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack 1978
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack 1979
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack 1981
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack 1982
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack 1985
- ^ Burke's Peerage
- ^ Walker, Tim; Richard Eden (1 December 2009). "Strike for love at 83". Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ "Air Marshal Sir Peter Bairsto and Mrs L.D.P. Braid". Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ "No. 53008". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 3 August 1992.
- 1926 births
- Companions of the Order of the Bath
- Deputy Lieutenants of Fife
- Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Living people
- Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
- Recipients of the Commendation for Valuable Service
- Royal Air Force air marshals
- Royal Air Force Regiment officers
- Royal Navy personnel of World War II
- Royal Navy sailors