William Welsh

Air Marshal Sir William Lawrie Welsh (February 10, 1891-January 2, 1962) was a British Royal Air Force officer who commanded British air operations during Operation Torch.

Early career

A Midshipman in the Royal Navy Reserve prior to the outbreak of World War I, Welsh joined the Royal Naval Air Service in November 1914 as a pilot at "RNAS Calshot".

During the early years of the war, Welsh acted as a test pilot and became one of the first pilots to fly a plane off an early carrier, flying a Sopwith Schneider floatplane off "HMS Campania", while sailing at approximately 18 knots, on August 6, 1915. He again repeated this on November 3, with the ship sailing at full speed.

In 1917, Welsh was shot down while flying a Sopwith Baby seaplane, landing only six miles northeast of Dunkirk on April 23, although he was unhurt in the crash.

In 1918, Welsh received his first command as head of No. 17 Sqn. RNAS, which became No. 217 Sqn. on the formation of the RAF (DH4 – Dunkirk Area), and then No. 214 Sqn. between January 10, 1918 and March 26, 1919. Stationed in Egypt, Welsh was awarded a permanent commission as a Major on August 1, 1919.

Interwar years

Following the war, Welsh continued with developmental flying and, in 1921, he surveyed the air route from Jerusalem to Baghdad flying across the Syrian Desert. As commanding officer of No 14 Sqn. (Bristol F2B – Palestine), Welsh would be serve on the Air Staff at Middle East Area headquarters in August 1921.

Serving in a number of staff and command positions during most of the 20s, Welsh served as commanding officer of the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment on September 1, 1930 until his appointment as commanding officer of No. 203 Sqn. (Southampton II, Rangoon I - Basrah).

In 1934, Welsh became Director of Organization and within three years was named Air Member for Supply and Organization on September 1, 1937.

He was present at the funeral of King George V on January 28, 1936.

World War II

Succeeding Air Vice Marshal John Steel, Welsh served as commanding officer of Reserve Command from April 22 to May 27, 1940 and Technical Training Command until July 7, 1940.

Overseeing Eastern Air Command in 1942, Welsh was responsible for providing air support for allied forces in Algeria and Tunisia during Operation Torch. Welsh would later lead the RAF delegation in Washington, D.C. during 1943 and 1944 before his resignation on December 1, 1944.

Later years

Following his retirement, Welsh stayed in the United States and eventually divorced his wife to marry the widow of US senator Warren Barbour in 1947. He would later become the North American representative for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders until his death on January 2, 1962.

References

*Parrish, Thomas and S. L. A. Marshall, ed. "The Simon and Schuster Encyclopedia of World War II", New York: Simon and Schuster, 1978.

External links

* [http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Welsh.htm Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation: Air Marshal Sir William Welsh]