Norman Bottomley

Sir Norman Bottomley
Born	18 September 1891 Yorkshire
Died	13 August 1970(1970-08-13) (aged 78)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1914 - 1948
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Commands held	Inspector-General of the RAF Bomber Command No. 5 Group
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire Distinguished Service Order Air Force Cross Mention in Despatches (5)
Other work	Director of Administration at the BBC 1948-1956

Air Chief Marshal Sir Norman Howard Bottomley KCB CIE DSO AFC RAF (18 September 1891 – 13 August 1970) was the Yorkshire-born successor to Arthur 'Bomber' Harris as Commander-in-Chief of RAF Bomber Command in 1945.

RAF career

Born in Yorkshire, Bottomley was educated at Halifax School and the University of Rennes in Brittany before being commissioned into the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1914 during World War I.^[1] He served with his Regiment until transferring to the Royal Flying Corps in 1915 and becoming a pilot with No. 47 Squadron.^[1]

Between the wars Bottomley's appointments included service in the Middle East and the command of No. 4 (AC) Squadron RAF from 1928 and No. 1 (Indian) Group from 1934.^[1] Bottomley was Senior Air Staff Officer at Bomber Command headquarters between 1938 and 1940, continuing in that role at the start of World War II, and was then appointed Air Officer Commanding No. 5 Group in November 1940.^[1] He was moved to Deputy Chief of the Air Staff in 1941 and then Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) in 1942 before reverting to Deputy Chief of the Air Staff in 1943.^[1] On the 15 September 1945, he followed Sir Arthur 'Bomber' Harris as Commander-in-Chief Bomber Command, retaining command until 16 January 1947.^[1]

Bottomley became Inspector-General of the RAF in 1947 and retired on 1 January 1948.^[1]

From 1948 until 1956, he held the post of Director of Administration at the BBC, acting as Director General when Sir Ian Jacob was away.^[2]

Honours and awards

• Air Force Cross - 2 November 1918^[3]
• Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire - 11 May 1937^[4]
• Distinguished Service Order - 21 December 1937^[5]
• Companion of the Order of the Bath - 17 March 1941^[6]
• Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath - 8 June 1944^[1]
• Mention in Despatches - 12 November 1937, 18 February 1938, 14 June 1938, 1 January 1941^[1]
• Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States) - 9 Oct 1945^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Air of Authority "Air Chief Marshal Sir Norman Bottomley". A History of RAF Organisation. http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Bottomley.htm Air of Authority. Retrieved 6 July 2011. 
2. ^ Low Conspiracy? – Government interference in the BBC1
3. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30989. p. 12957. 1 November 1918. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
4. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 34396. p. 3083. 11 May 1937. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
5. ^ London Gazette: no. 34465. p. 8001. 21 December 1937. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
6. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35107. p. 1571. 17 March 1941. Retrieved 2011-01-02.

• 1940 Photographs of Bottomley held by the National Portrait Gallery, London
• Letter from Bufton to Bottomley re Dambusters Raid

Military offices
Preceded by A T Harris	Air Officer Commanding No. 5 Group 1940–1941	Succeeded by J C Slessor
Preceded by A T Harris	Deputy Chief of the Air Staff From 3 May 1942 to 30 Jul 1943 the post was titled Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) 1 June 1941 – 15 September 1945	Succeeded by Sir Albert Durston
Preceded by Sir Arthur Harris	Commander-in-Chief Bomber Command 1945–1947	Succeeded by Sir Hugh Saunders
Preceded by Sir Arthur Barratt	Inspector-General of the RAF 1947	Succeeded by Sir George Pirie

Persondata
Name	Bottomley, Norman
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	13 September 1891
Place of birth	Yorkshire
Date of death	13 August 1970
Place of death