- Edward Leonard Ellington
Infobox Military Person
name=Edward Leonard Ellington
lived=30 December 1877 – death date and age|1967|6|13|1877|12|30|df=yes
placeofbirth=Kensington ,London ,England
placeofdeath=Wandsworth ,London ,England
caption=Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Edward Ellington
nickname=
allegiance=flag|United Kingdom
serviceyears=1897–1940
rank=Marshal of the Royal Air Force
branch= air force|United Kingdom
commands=
unit=
battles=World War I World War II
awards=Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Commander of the Order of the British Empire Mention in Despatches (4)
laterwork=Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Edward Leonard Ellington GCB, CMG, CBE (30 December 1877 –13 June 1967 ) was a senior officer in theRoyal Air Force . He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1933 to 1937, then asInspector General of the RAF until his retirement in 1940.Early career
After attending the
Royal Military Academy Woolwich , Ellington was commissioned into theRoyal Field Artillery on1 September 1897 . He learned to fly in 1912 and was awardedRoyal Aero Club certificate No. 305 on1 October 1912 .World War I
When the First World War started, Ellington was under training at the
Central Flying School . A few months later, he was sent, not to a flying post but to be the Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General at the headquarters of theBritish Expeditionary Force in France. In early 1915 he was granted a brevet promotion to lieutenant-colonel and posted as the Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster-General of the 2nd Cavalry Division.From July 1915 onwards, Ellington served as a
staff officer first with the 2nd Army, then with the Department of theChief of the Imperial General Staff and on the General Staff of the VIII Corps after that. In November 1917 he was made the Deputy Director-General of Military Aeronautics underJohn Salmond at theWar Office . When Salmond's time as director came to an end, Ellington succeeded him as Director-General.In April 1918 Ellington transferred to the
Royal Air Force on its creation, with the temporary rank ofbrigadier-general . However only days later he was promoted tomajor-general (again temporarily) and appointed Acting Controller-General of Equipment. He became substantive in the post in August 1918.Inter-war years
Ellington was
Air Officer Commanding RAF Middle East from 1922 to 1923, Air Officer Commanding RAF India from 1923 to 1926 and Air Officer Commanding RAF Iraq from 1926 to 1928. He became Air Officer Commanding-in-ChiefAir Defence of Great Britain in February 1929 and was promotedair marshal in July that year. TheAir Member for Personnel from September 1931, he was promotedair chief marshal on1 January 1933 .In May 1933 Ellington was appointed Chief of the Air Staff (CAS). He succeeded Air Chief Marshal Sir
John Salmond , who was acting in the role following the sudden death of his brother Air Chief Marshal SirGeoffrey Salmond , who had become CAS in April. [ [http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/SalmondW.htm Air Chief Marshal Sir Geoffrey Salmond] at [http://www.rafweb.org/index.htm Air of Authority] . Retrieved30 December 2007 .] Ellington was promotedmarshal of the Royal Air Force on1 January 1937 .Following completion of his term as CAS in August 1937, Ellington became
Inspector-General of the RAF . It was in his capacity as Inspector-General that in 1938 Ellington visited Australia to investigate standards in theRoyal Australian Air Force . His report strongly criticized the RAAF's operational capability and safety standards. [ [http://www.awm.gov.au/events/conference/2003/clark.asp 2003 History Conference - Air War Europe: The Empire Air Training Scheme] atAustralian War Memorial . Retrieved30 December 2007 .] Following the publication of the report in July 1938, the Australian Government dismissedAir Vice Marshal Richard Williams from his post as RAAF Chief of the Air Staff.Weston, "History and Achievements Guiding Defence and Aviation Policy", pp.11-12] In July 1939 Ellington was augmented in his post as Inspector-General by Air Marshal Sir Charles Burnett, who would become the RAAF's Chief of the Air Staff in 1940. [LondonGazette|issue=34641|supp=yes|startpage=4452|date=30 June 1939 |accessdate=2007-12-30]Ellington retired shortly after the start of
World War II , on4 April 1940 , and died on13 June 1967 .Notes
References
* [http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Ellington.htm Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Marshal of the RAF Sir Edward Ellington]
*cite paper | author = Weston, Air Vice Marshal Brian | title = The Australian Aviation Industry - History and Achievements Guiding Defence and Aviation Policy| publisher=Commonwealth of Australia | date = 2003 | url = http://www.defence.gov.au/Raaf/airpower/html/publications/papers/apdc/apdc_12_australian_aviation_industry.pdf
*Probert, H. (1991). "High Commanders of the Royal Air Force". HMSO. ISBN 0-11-772635-4-
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