Flying Marines


1. Name	John Henry d' ALBIAC
2. Date Commissioned	3 December 1914
3. Date retired	Transferred to R.AF. 1 April 1918 Retired from R.A.F. 1947
4. Rank	Temp Captain D.S.O. on transfer Air Marshal Sir John d'Albiac on retirement K.B.E C.B D.S.O
5. Awarded wings	1 March 1918
6. Flying schools	Probably none. Was originally attached as an Observer
7. Aircraft types flown	Not traced
8. Decorations	D.S.O 22 June 1916. "In recognition of his services as an aeroplane observer at Dunkirk since February 1915. During the past year Lieutenant d' Albiac has been continually employed in coastal reconnaissance and fighting patrols. The Vice Admiral commanding the Dover Patrol, in reporting the work of the R.N.AS. at Dunkirk lays particular emphasis on the good work done by the Observers." 1914/15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal C.B. 1941 K.B.E. 1946 Commander of Legion of Merit U.S.A Grand Officer of Order of Phoenix (Greece) Grand Officer of Order of Orange Nassau (Neth)
9. General	John d'Albiac was loaned to the R.N.AS. as an Observer from 3 February 1915 until 31 March 1918 which led to a distinguished career in the RNAS and the R.AF. He served in the famous NAVAL 8 Squadron as an observer, one of the pilots being Major Draper, the Mad Major. The citation for the DSO, above, is self explanatory. At the end of the War he transferred to the R.AF. on 1 April 1918. He then served in Egypt and Transjordan from 1920 to 1926. His subsequent appointments were as follows: C.S.O. to 22 Group 1930 to 1932 C.S.O. to 22 Group 1937 to 1938 A.O.C. British Air Forces Greece 1940 A.O.C. RAF Ceylon 1942 A.O.C. Tactical Air Force 1943 to 1944 Deputy Comdr Allied Tactical Air Force Mediterranean 1944 Director General RAF Personnel 1945 to 1946 He retired on 14 April 1947 as Air Marshal KBE. CB. DSO. and became Commandant of London Airport in 1947. In 1957 he became Deputy Chairman of the Air Transport Advisory Council. He died in late 1963 or early 1964.