- Leslie Dalton-Morris
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Sir Leslie Dalton-Morris Born 7 April 1906 Died 28 October 1976 Allegiance United Kingdom Service/branch Royal Air Force Years of service 1924-1963 Rank Air Marshal Commands held Signals Command
Maintenance CommandBattles/wars World War II Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the BathAir Marshal Sir Leslie Dalton-Morris KBE CB RAF (7 April 1906 – 28 October 1976) was a senior Royal Air Force commander in the middle of the twentieth century. He played a leading role in the use of signals in the Air Force both during and after World War II.
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Early years
After joining the RAF as a trainee pilot in 1924, Dalton-Morris underwent instruction at No. 5 Flying Training School at Sealand near Chester.[1] After a period as a night flying pilot, Dalton-Morris was posted to No. 15 Squadron, before being selected to attend the RAF Electrical and Wireless School in 1929.[1] Graduating from his course as a flight lieutenant with a permanent commission, Dalton-Morris served as the signals officer on No. 203 Squadron in the early 1930s.[1] After a tour of duty at the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment at RAF Felixstowe, Dalton-Morris returned to the Electrical and Wireless School as an instructor in 1935.[1]
In 1935 Dalton-Morris attended the RAF Staff College at Andover, Hampshire and received a promotion to squadron leader and in 1938 he was sent to No. 2 Group as a staff officer.[1]
World War II
The same year as World War II started, Dalton-Morris was appointed the Deputy Chief Signals Officer at the headquarters of Fighter Command at RAF Bentley Priory.[1] By January 1941 Dalton-Morris had been promoted to wing commander when he returned to No. 2 Group as a signals officer.[1] The next year he was moved to Bomber Command which was No. 2 Group's higher formation.[1] He served as the Deputy Chief Signals Officer at Bomber Command's headquarters at RAF High Wycombe.[1]
In the summer of 1943 Dalton-Morris was promoted to acting air commodore and took up new duties as the Senior Air Staff Officer at No. 26 (Signals) Group which controlled British Radar stations.[1] In early 1944 Dalton-Morris returned to Bomber Command where he served as the Chief Signals Officer.[1]
Post-war
After the War Dalton-Morris held a number of senior signals appointments in the RAF, serving as the Director of Radio/Signals, the Commandant of the Central Signals Establishment from 1948 and the Chief Signals Officer at the headquarters of the Middle East Air Force from 1950.[1]
In March 1952, Dalton-Morris was promoted to acting air vice-marshal and made Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Signals).[1] He went on to higher command as Air Officer Commanding No 90 (Signals) Group in 1956 and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Signals Command in 1958.[1] In 1961 Dalton-Morris was promted to air marshal and having exhausted senior RAF signals appointments, he became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Maintenance Command.[2] He retired from that post and the RAF just over two years later in July 1963.[1]
References
Military offices Preceded by
J G W WestonAir Officer Commanding No. 90 (Signals) Group
1956 - 1958Group upgraded to Command status Command created from No. 90 (Signals) Group Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Signals Command
3 November 1958 – 1 March 1961Succeeded by
A Foord-KelceyPreceded by
Sir Douglas JackmanAir Officer Commanding-in-Chief Maintenance Command
1 March 1961 – 4 June 1963Succeeded by
Sir Norman CoslettCategories:- 1906 births
- 1976 deaths
- Royal Air Force air marshals
- Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Companions of the Order of the Bath
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