Robert Dickinson Oxland | |
---|---|
Born | 4 April 1889 |
Died | 27 October 1959 | (aged 70)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ |
British Army (1915–18) Royal Air Force (1918–46) |
Years of service | 1915–46 |
Rank | Air Vice-Marshal |
Commands held |
No. 1 (Bomber) Group (1940–43) No. 503 Squadron RAF (1925–26) No. 502 Squadron RAF (1918–19) |
Battles/wars |
First World War Second World War |
Awards |
Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Mentioned in Despatches (2) Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta (Poland) |
Air Vice Marshal Robert Dickinson Oxland, CB, CBE (4 April 1889 – 27 October 1959) was a senior Royal Air Force officer and member of Bomber Command during the Second World War. [1] He was air officer commanding No. 1 Group from 1940 to 1943. [2]
Robert Dickinson Oxland was born in Sydenham on 4 April 1889, the son of Charles Oxland, a Mining Engineer, and his wife Eleanor. [3] [4] He was educated at Bedford Modern School. [1]
At the outbreak of the First World War, Oxland joined the County of London Yeomanry[ clarification needed]. [5] He was commissioned in 1915 and seconded to the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 [3] having learned to fly in Norwich, earning RAeC Certificate No. 2444 on 9 February 1916. [4] [5] [6] He was with No. 20 Squadron in France in 1916 and with No. 38 Squadron in 1918. [5]
Oxland transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1918. [3] As a qualified meteorological observer [5] his first postings were in Iraq as a specialist staff officer. [2] He returned to England in 1925 as a squadron leader [2] and was the first commanding officer of No. 502 Squadron RAF. [7] In 1926, he was responsible for organising the formation of No. 503 Squadron RAF and was its commanding officer until 1930. [6] [8]
Oxland was promoted to wing commander in 1930 and thereafter ‘took a series of staff appointments at home and overseas’. [2] In 1934 he was appointed to the Directorate of Operations and Intelligence at the Air Ministry. [5] In 1936, as Director of the Air Ministry's Operational Requirements, [9] Oxland was Chairman of the Committee that decided to produce the four-engined heavy bombers resulting in the Stirling, Halifax and Lancaster. [6] In 1938 he was promoted to air commodore and the post of Director of Personal Services at the Air Ministry. [2]
In November 1940 he was promoted to air officer commanding (AOC) No. 1 Group. [2] During his time at HQ Bomber Command, "he concentrated on the direction of operations in support of Operation Overlord whilst Hugh Walmsley oversaw the area bombing programme". [6] In February 1943 he was succeeded as AOC of No. 1 Group by Air Vice Marshal Edward Rice. [2] Thereafter he held a ‘special appointment' at HQ Bomber Command [10] and his final position from 1945 was AOA, HQ Air Command South East Asia. [6]
Oxland retired in May 1946. [3]
Oxland was invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1929. In 1942 he was invested as Commander of the Order of the British Empire and a Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta. [3] [11] In 1943 he was made Companion of the Order of the Bath. [3]
Oxland was also twice mentioned in despatches, on 1 January 1943 and 8 June 1944. [6]
Oxland was a member of the United Service Club. [3] In 1929 he married Ethel Barbara Williams, daughter of Colonel Henry David Williams. [3] They had two daughters. [3] He died in Maidenhead, Berkshire on 27 October 1959. [3]
Robert Dickinson Oxland | |
---|---|
Born | 4 April 1889 |
Died | 27 October 1959 | (aged 70)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ |
British Army (1915–18) Royal Air Force (1918–46) |
Years of service | 1915–46 |
Rank | Air Vice-Marshal |
Commands held |
No. 1 (Bomber) Group (1940–43) No. 503 Squadron RAF (1925–26) No. 502 Squadron RAF (1918–19) |
Battles/wars |
First World War Second World War |
Awards |
Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Mentioned in Despatches (2) Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta (Poland) |
Air Vice Marshal Robert Dickinson Oxland, CB, CBE (4 April 1889 – 27 October 1959) was a senior Royal Air Force officer and member of Bomber Command during the Second World War. [1] He was air officer commanding No. 1 Group from 1940 to 1943. [2]
Robert Dickinson Oxland was born in Sydenham on 4 April 1889, the son of Charles Oxland, a Mining Engineer, and his wife Eleanor. [3] [4] He was educated at Bedford Modern School. [1]
At the outbreak of the First World War, Oxland joined the County of London Yeomanry[ clarification needed]. [5] He was commissioned in 1915 and seconded to the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 [3] having learned to fly in Norwich, earning RAeC Certificate No. 2444 on 9 February 1916. [4] [5] [6] He was with No. 20 Squadron in France in 1916 and with No. 38 Squadron in 1918. [5]
Oxland transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1918. [3] As a qualified meteorological observer [5] his first postings were in Iraq as a specialist staff officer. [2] He returned to England in 1925 as a squadron leader [2] and was the first commanding officer of No. 502 Squadron RAF. [7] In 1926, he was responsible for organising the formation of No. 503 Squadron RAF and was its commanding officer until 1930. [6] [8]
Oxland was promoted to wing commander in 1930 and thereafter ‘took a series of staff appointments at home and overseas’. [2] In 1934 he was appointed to the Directorate of Operations and Intelligence at the Air Ministry. [5] In 1936, as Director of the Air Ministry's Operational Requirements, [9] Oxland was Chairman of the Committee that decided to produce the four-engined heavy bombers resulting in the Stirling, Halifax and Lancaster. [6] In 1938 he was promoted to air commodore and the post of Director of Personal Services at the Air Ministry. [2]
In November 1940 he was promoted to air officer commanding (AOC) No. 1 Group. [2] During his time at HQ Bomber Command, "he concentrated on the direction of operations in support of Operation Overlord whilst Hugh Walmsley oversaw the area bombing programme". [6] In February 1943 he was succeeded as AOC of No. 1 Group by Air Vice Marshal Edward Rice. [2] Thereafter he held a ‘special appointment' at HQ Bomber Command [10] and his final position from 1945 was AOA, HQ Air Command South East Asia. [6]
Oxland retired in May 1946. [3]
Oxland was invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1929. In 1942 he was invested as Commander of the Order of the British Empire and a Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta. [3] [11] In 1943 he was made Companion of the Order of the Bath. [3]
Oxland was also twice mentioned in despatches, on 1 January 1943 and 8 June 1944. [6]
Oxland was a member of the United Service Club. [3] In 1929 he married Ethel Barbara Williams, daughter of Colonel Henry David Williams. [3] They had two daughters. [3] He died in Maidenhead, Berkshire on 27 October 1959. [3]