Flying Marines

1. Name	Robert Clement GILES
2. Date Commissioned	1 October 1919
3. Date retired	27 June 1949 Died 2 March 1970
4. Rank	Lieut. Colonel
5. Awarded wings	15 March 1926
6. Flying schools	R.A.F Netheravon 27April 1925 R.A.F Leuchars 16 November 1925
7. Aircraft types flown	Fighter types eg Fairey Flycatcher
8. Squadrons	405 Flight – Furious 1926 404 Flight – Courageous 1927/30
9. Aircraft Carriers	Furious 1926 Courageous 1927/30
10. Senior Appointments	F.A.A None. RM. SO1 Hong Kong 1939, captured by Japanese. 2 i/c R.M. Deal. 1946. Officer i/c Records, PRORM 1948
11.Decorations	1939/45 War medals-P.O.W. Mentioned in Despatches L.G. 26 June 1946 for distinguished services during the War in the Far East
12. General	Giles was one of the 19 R.M. Officers who volunteered for flying duties under AF.O. 1058/24 following the Trenchard - Keyes agreement of 1924. His flying report from Netheravon showed him to have a great ability as a pilot. Whilst he was in Courageous he was in Cathcart - Jones' sub - flight which would have been quite demanding and included patrols in Palestine when trouble was brewing there. Having returned to Corps Duty he was SO1 at Hong Kong at the outbreak of war and was captured by the Japanese. After the war he was 2i/c at the Depot R.M. in 1946 and later was Officer i/c Records in 1948." He retired on 27 June 1949 - medically unfit, and died on 2 March 1970
13. R.A.F Rank	Flying Officer 27 April 1925