| Richard Ernest Saul | |
|---|---|
 Air Vice Marshal Richard Saul c.1940 | |
| Born | (1891-04-16)16 April 1891 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 30 November 1965(1965-11-30) (aged 74) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army (1914–18) Royal Air Force (1918–44) |
| Years of service | 1914–44 |
| Rank | Air Vice-Marshal |
| Commands | Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean (1943–44) No. 12 Group (1940–42) No. 13 Group (1939–40) RAF Calshot (1936–37) No. 203 Squadron (1933–36) School of Army Co-operation (1930–33) No. 2 Squadron (1925–27) No. 12 Squadron (1919–21) No. 7 Squadron (1919) No. 4 Squadron (1917–19) |
| Battles / wars | First World War Second World War * Battle of Britain |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Flying Cross Mentioned in Despatches Knight of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) Croix de guerre (Belgium) |
| Other work | United Nations official |
Air Vice-Marshal Richard Ernest Saul, CB, DFC (16 April 1891 – 30 November 1965) was a pilot during the First World War and a senior Royal Air Force commander during the Second World War.
Earlier years
Saul was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1891. He was a bank official with the Royal Bank of Ireland before joining the Army. At the start of the First World War he was a second lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps but by 1916 he was a Flying Officer (Observer) with No. 16 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. During the war he rose to command No. 4 Squadron and after the armistice he commanded No. 7 Squadron and then No. 12 Squadron. In 1925 he was given command of No. 2 Squadron. A keen sportsman Saul played rugby and hockey for the RAF; in both 1928 and 1932 he was the RAF tennis champion. In September 1933 Saul was appointed the Officer Commanding No. 203 Squadron operating from Basra in Iraq and in 1935 Saul led a flight of flying boats, from his squadron, on a long-distance journey from Plymouth to Basra.
Second World War and beyond
During the Second World War Saul was Air Officer Commanding No. 13 Group from 1939, Air Officer Commanding No. 12 Group from 1940 and then Air Officer Commanding Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean from 1943.
Saul retired from the RAF on 29 June 1944 and then served as the Chairman of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration's mission in the Balkans. He next acted as the vice-chairman of the International Transport Commission in Rome. After Saul left Rome in 1951, he took up employment as the manager of the University of Toronto bookshop until finally retiring in 1959. Richard Saul died on 30 November 1965 after being hit by a car two days earlier.
Notes
- Richard Saul – History of the Battle of Britain
- "War Memorial Royal Bank of Ireland Great War Memorial in Dublin 02, Royal Bank of Ireland, Dublin 2, Dublin City 02".
- ^ Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Vice-Marshal R E Saul
References
- Century of Flight – Air Vice Marshal Richard Ernest Saul D.F.C.
- The Kenton Bar Bunker – Air Vice Marshal Richard Saul
- Valka.cz – Air Vice Marshal Richard Saul (in Czech)
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byL. Jenkins | Officer Commanding No. 4 Squadron 1917–1919 |
Succeeded byH. B. Prior |
| Preceded byL. F. Forbes | Officer Commanding No. 2 Squadron 1925–1927 |
Succeeded byW. Sowrey |
| Preceded byWilliam Welsh | Officer Commanding No. 203 Squadron 1933–1936 |
Succeeded byWilliam Callaway |
| Preceded byEdward Rice | Officer Commanding RAF Calshot 1936–1937 |
Succeeded byArthur Coningham |
| New title | Air Officer Commanding No. 13 (Fighter) Group 1939–1940 |
Succeeded byJohn Andrews |
| Preceded byTrafford Leigh-Mallory | Air Officer Commanding No. 12 (Fighter) Group 1940–1942 |
Succeeded byJohn Andrews |
| Preceded byWilfred McClaughry | Air Officer Commanding Air Headquarters Egypt Became AOC Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean on 4 March 1943 1943–1944 |
Succeeded byThomas Langford-Sainsbury As AOC Air Headquarters Eastern Mediterranean |
- 1891 births
- 1965 deaths
- British World War I fighter pilots
- Royal Flying Corps officers
- British Army personnel of World War I
- Royal Air Force personnel of World War I
- Royal Air Force air marshals of World War II
- Battle of Britain
- Aviators from Dublin (city)
- Irish people of World War I
- Irish people of World War II
- Royal Army Service Corps officers
- British officials of the United Nations
- Companions of the Order of the Bath
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
- Knights of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)
- Recipients of the Croix de guerre (Belgium)
- Military personnel from Dublin (city)
- Irish officers of the Royal Flying Corps
- Irish officers of the Royal Air Force