Stanley Vincent

Infobox Military Person
name=Stanley Vincent
lived=7 April 1897 – 13 March 1976
placeofbirth= Hampstead, London, England
placeofdeath= Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk , England


caption=
nickname=
allegiance= flag|United Kingdom
serviceyears=1915–1950
rank=Air Vice Marshal
branch= air force|United Kingdom
commands=
battles=World War I
World War II
awards= Knight Bachelor
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Force Cross
laterwork= Eastern Area Commandant Royal Observer Corps 1954 - 1965

Air Vice Marshal Sir Stanley Flamank Vincent CB, DFC, AFC, DL, RAF (7 April 1897 – 13 March 1976) was a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps and later a senior commander in the Royal Air Force.

Stanley Vincent was born on the 7 April 1897, the son of Dr Charles Vincent, and Hannah Phillips. He was educated at Lancing College.

RAF career

He was commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) after the completion of his training in 1915. His maiden posting was to No. 60 Squadron RAF in France as Pilot Officer where he became the first pilot of 60 Squadron to shoot down an enemy fighter. He returned to England with his CO, Major Smith-Barry, in order to open and establish the School of Special Flying at Gosport.

In November 1917 Vincent was charged with the responsibility of being first member and flight commander of the newly formed No. 110 Squadron RAF. After handing command to the Squadron’s first CO (Major H R Nicholl), he was posted to Shoreham and formed a new flying school similar to that at Gosport. He was awarded the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) in 1918 and promoted Flight lieutenant in 1920.

In 1921 he was appointed flight commander at the newly opened Royal Air Force College Cranwell however he returned to operations in Iraq with No. 30 Squadron RAF. His overseas posting finished in 1928 and he travelled home in order to join No. 1 Squadron RAF at Tangmere. Promoted Squadron Leader in 1931, Vincent took command of No. 41 Squadron RAF at Northolt and it was here that he was involved in the early experiments with Radio Telephony.

However he soon returned to Iraq to replace the CO of No. 80 Squadron RAF who was taken ill and returned home. It was during this time that Vincent took part in the first reinforcement flight to Singapore. He too was taken ill at the end of 1934 and returned home. In 1936 he was promoted Wing Commander and was stationed as officer commanding RAF Northolt.

After a brief period with the Air Ministry, followed by attendance at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, he was promoted Group Captain and returned to RAF Northolt where he commanded during the Battle of Britain. Vincent often accompanied his squadrons on sorties and is reported to have, on one occasion, shot down 5 Do 17 enemy bombers. Although this feat has never been substantiated, he was promptly awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in recognition of his skill and bravery. In 1941 he was posted to RAF North Weald and, after a brief spell at RAF Biggin Hill, was promoted Air Commodore after which he moved to Fighter Command.

Consequent on his request for active duty, he was sent to Singapore in 1942 where he formed No. 226 Group only in order to fight a losing battle against overwhelming enemy forces. He was evacuated to Australia and then to New Zealand where he developed their air defence systems.

He returned to England and to Fighter Command after which he was dispatched to Scotland and the command of No. 13 Group. He was also designated Air Officer Commanding of the planned invasion of Norway. When this failed to materialise he travelled back to Japan and command of No. 221 Group (South East Asia Air Forces, Burma [later Myanmar] ) where he provided aerial support for the 14th Army and was made CB. He remained in Japan until the end of the war and, on the day of the victory parade, was invalided home with dysentery. He was promoted Acting Air Vice-Marshal in 1944 and Air Vice-Marshal in 1947. Between 1945 and 1948 he held the position of Senior Air Staff Officer, Fighter Command.

He commanded No. 11 Group before requesting retirement in 1950. After retirement he served as Commandant for the Eastern Area, Royal Observer Corps (1954-1965) in the rank of Observer Captain. He published his autobiography in 1972 and died in 1976. Commands held from World War II:

* 1940 Officer Commanding, RAF Northolt.
* 1941 Officer Commanding, RAF North Weald.
* 1941 Group Captain – Operations, HQ No. 11 Group.
* 1941 Officer Commanding (Temporary), RAF Biggin Hill.
* 1941 Duty Air Commodore, HQ Fighter Command.
* 1942 Air Officer Commanding, No. 226 Group.
* 1943 Duty Air Commodore, HQ Fighter Command.
* 1943 Air Officer Commanding, No. 13 Group.
* 1944 Air Officer Commanding, No. 221 Group.
* 1945 Senior Air Staff Officer, HQ Fighter Command.
* 1948 Air Officer Commanding, No. 11 Group.
* 1954 Area Commandant of Eastern Area, Royal Observer Corps.

Works

*"Flying fever" (Jarrolds, London, 1972)

References

* [http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/VincentS.htm Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Vice-Marshal S F Vincent]
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searches/subjectView.asp?ID=P37958]

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