Aircrew

Profiles of aircrew who served with the Royal Air Force and its predecessor services.

20 Profiles
Featured Aircrew

Air Vice-Marshal

Robert Stanford Tuck

DSO DFC and Two Bars AFC
1 July 1916 5 May 1987 aged 70

Air Vice-Marshal Robert Stanford Tuck was one of the RAF’s best-known fighter aces of the Second World War. Closely associated with the Battle of Britain period, he flew both Spitfire and Hurricane fighters and became a leading public figure in Fighter Command history.

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Nationality British
Service Royal Air Force
Years served 1935–1965
Era Second World War

Aircrew · 20 profiles

Aircrew

Alan Jerrard

Flight Lieutenant

VC MiD Bronze Medal of Military Valour (Italy) 3 December 1897–14 May 1968
Aircrew

Bert Hinkler

Petty Officer, later honorary Squadron Leader (RAAF Reserve)

DSM AFC Britannia Trophy 8 December 1892–7 January 1933
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Aircrew

Charles “Jock” Calder

Wing Commander

DSO and Bar DFC 1997
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Douglas Bader

Group Captain

Knight Bachelor CBE DSO & Bar 21 February 1910–5 September 1982
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Edgar Kain

Flying Officer

DFC Mentioned in Despatches 27 June 1918–7 June 1940
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Edwin Swales

Major

VC DFC 3 July 1915–23 February 1945
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Eric Edward Williams

1912–15 October 1940
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Frank Whittle

Air Commodore

OM KBE CB 1 June 1907–8 August 1996
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Geoffrey Allard

Flight Lieutenant

DFC DFM and Bar 20 August 1912–13 March 1941
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George Walton Holden

Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar (DFC)

Wing Commander By February 1943 he held the Distinguished Flying Cross and was awarded a Bar while serving with 102 Squadron; the published citation referred to a sortie in January 1943 in which, despite severe icing, engine failure and difficulty in controlling the aircraft, he pressed on to bomb his target successfully.
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Guy Gibson

Wing Commander

VC DSO and Bar DFC and Bar 12 August 1918–19 September 1944
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James McCudden

Major

VC DSO and Bar MC and Bar 28 March 1895–9 July 1918
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John Alexander Cruickshank

Flight Lieutenant

VC AE 20 May 1920–9 August 2025
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John Cunningham

Group Captain

CBE DSO and Two Bars DFC and Bar 27 July 1917–21 July 2002
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John Dering Nettleton

Squadron Leader

VC MiD 28 June 1917–13 July 1943
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John Gillan

Wing Commander

AFC DFC and Bar 29 August 1941
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John Hemingway

Group Captain

DFC MiD 17 July 1919–17 March 2025
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Leonard Cheshire

Distinguished Service Order (DSO and Two Bars)

other Awarded for gallantry and distinguished service in bomber operations; awarded early in his operational career, with later Bars recognising further sustained leadership on operations.–Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
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Aircrew

Robert Stanford Tuck

Air Vice-Marshal

DSO DFC and Two Bars AFC 1 July 1916–5 May 1987
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Thomas Mottershead

Sergeant

VC DCM 17 January 1892–12 January 1917