Augustus Orlebar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Air Vice Marshal Augustus Henry Orlebar CBE, AFC | |
| Born | Augustus Henry Orlebar 17th February 1897 Hinwick House, Podington, Beds. |
|---|---|
| Died | 4 August 1943 (aged 46) |
| Burial place | St Mary's church, Podington |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Rugby school |
| Occupation | RAF officer |
| Known for | Air racing and military aviation |
| Spouse | Victoria Orlebar |
|
Notes
|
|
Augustus Henry Orlebar was born in 1897, the son of Augustus Scobell Orlebar and Hester Mary Orlebar, of Podington. The Orlebars were an old family, having built Hinwick House almost 200 years earlier, after holding the manor since the mid-17th century. Rugby school was a natural education for a boy of his background.
Contents |
[edit] The Great War
Enlisted in 1/5th Territorial Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, January 1915. Commissioned as a 2nd Lt, he served at Gallipoli and wounded in action by a sniper's bullet. Invalided to UK and transferred to RFC on recovery.
Trained as a pilot in 1916, then served over the Western Front to the end of the war. On 13th March 1918, shot down and severely wounded Ltn. Lothar von Richthofen (brother of Manfred von Richthofen), near Cambrai. Wounded in turn himself by Albatros scouts over Ham, 23rd March 1918. Before his return to combat, he also served as an instructor in Essex.
He was credited with two enemy aircraft destroyed whilst serving with No 19 and a further four as a flight commander in No 73 Squadron, before being wounded. He gained his final victory with 43 on 29 September bringing his total to seven.
[edit] Inter-war Service
Test pilot at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE), Martlesham Heath, 1919-25.
Awarded AFC 1921 and bar 1929.
[edit] Air racing
Officer Commanding and pilot with the High Speed Flight, the RAF's team for the Schneider Trophy seaplane races of 1927 - 1931. Britain, having won the 1927 race, became the subsequent host for the contests, which were based at RAF Calshot, on the eastern entrance to Southampton Water.
In 1929 he set a air speed record of 357.7 mph in Supermarine S.6 N247. [2]
The final contest was held in 1931, for a 3rd win gave the title to Britain in perpetuity. His report on the contest describes Flt Lt Stainforth's achievement of a new speed record at over 400 mph. [3]
[edit] World War II
As Group Captain, was OC RAF Northolt, 1939.
Promoted to Air Commodore and served at Fighter Command HQ during WW2.
 |
Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
[edit] Service career
[edit] Decorations
AFC - 2 Jan 1922, bar - 3 Jun 1930, MiD - 24 Sep 1941.
[edit] Ranks held
| Army | |
|---|---|
| Second Lieutenant | 15 Jan 1915 |
| Lieutenant Temporary | 21 Sep 1915 |
| Lieutenant | 21 Oct 1916 [1 Jun 1916] |
| Captain Temporary | 20 Dec 1917 |
| RAF | |
| Lieutenant | 1 Apr 1918 |
| Flight Lieutenant | 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918] |
| Squadron Leader | 1 Jul 1928 |
| Wing Commander | 1 Jan 1932 |
| Group Captain | 1 Jul 1937 |
| Air Commodore Temporary | 1 Feb 1940 |
| Acting Air Vice Marshal | 22 Jul 1941- 1 Jan 1943 |
| Air Commodore War substantive | 22 Jul 1942 |
| Air Commodore | 1 Oct 1942 [22 Jul 1942] |
| Acting Air Vice Marshal | 1 Mar 1943 - 21 Jun 1943 |
[edit] Service Record
[edit] Army
| 15 Jan 1915 | 2nd Lt, 1/5th Territorial Btn. Bedfordshire Regiment (Gallipoli) |
[edit] Royal Flying Corps
| 17 Sep 1916 | Flying Officer, RFC | |
| 1916 | Pilot, No. 19 Sqn. RFC | (BE12, Spad VII – Western Front) |
| 1917 | Pilot, No. 44 (Home Defence) Sqn. RFC | (Camel – Hainault farm [5]) |
| 19 Aug 1917 | precedence backdated to 1 Jun 1916. | |
| 20 Dec 1917 | Flight Commander, No. 73 Sqn. RFC | (Camel – Western Front) |
[edit] RAF
Sqn Ldr Orlebar is 4th from left
Sqn Ldr Orlebar is 5th from left
| 1918 | Instructor | |
| Aug 1918 | Flight Commander, No. 43 Squadron RAF | (Camel, Snipe – Western Front) |
| 1 Jul 1919 | Pilot, Aeroplane Experimental Station, Martlesham Heath. | |
| 1 Aug 1919 | Relinquishes his commission in the Bedfordshire Regiment (retaining rank of Lieutenant) | |
| 28 Oct 1919 | Granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant (effective from 1 Aug) | |
| 16 Mar 1920 | Pilot, at the renamed Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment | |
| 24 Jul 1923 | Flight Commander, No. 22 Sqn.. Trials aircraft – Martlesham Heath | |
| 4 May 1925 | Attended RAF Staff College | |
| 12 Apr 1926 | Staff, HQ No. 22 Group | |
| 21 Sep 1926 | supernumerary - awaiting disposal, HQ Iraq Command | |
| 3 Sep 1927 | Staff, Deputy Directorate of Staff Duties. | |
| 9 Jan 1929 | Test Pilot, Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment | |
| 2 Dec 1929 | Officer Commanding, Flying Boat Development Flight. | |
| 11 May 1931 | Officer Commanding, RAF High Speed Flight. | |
| 2 Jan 1932 | Staff, HQ No. 1 Air Defence Group | |
| 22 Sep 1933 | Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO), HQ Aden Command | |
| 1 May 1936 | Staff, Directorate of Staff Duties | |
| 12 Jan 1937 | Attended Imperial Defence College | |
| 20 Dec 1937 | Officer Commanding, RAF Northolt | |
| 15 Oct 1939 | Duty Air Commodore, HQ Fighter Command | |
| 29 Jul 1940 | Director of Flying Training | |
| 15 Oct 1940 | Air Staff, HQ Fighter Command | |
| 22 Jul 1941 | AOC, No. 10 (Fighter) Group | |
| 4 Nov 1942 | ||
| 2 Mar 1943 | Deputy Chief of Combined Operations |
