Biographical Data

Douglas, George

Personal Image

Photo Credit: Unknown

 
 
Title Commodore (Royal Indian Navy)
Official Number (nk)
 
Birth 00/00/1915 Death 28/11/2008
Place Namrup Place Victoria
Area Assam Area BC
Country India Country Canada
 
Titles
Honours DFC. Kings Commendation. Commander-in-Chief Commendation. Commander-in-Chief Commendation (South East Asia Command). Vishisht Seva Medal For Distinguished Service of an Exceptional Nature (India)
Awards
Qualifications ndc. psc.
 
Biography
He was a Cadet (Merchant Service) with the Castle Line (Liverpool UK) 01/01/1930. He was appointed as a Midshipman (Merchant Service) in the Castle Line (Liverpool UK). He qualified and served served as Second Mate 1933 and as First Mate 1937. He was qualified as a a Master Mariner 1939. He served in the Dodwell Line (Liverpool). He served in TSMV Greystroke Castle as Navigation Officer (Dutch East Indies to New York via Durbin) 1939. He served in MV Raby Castle as Chief Executive Officer 1939. After his retirement he was appointed to the College of Fisheries St. John's Newfoundland on the Faculty of Nautical Science as Instructor/Lecturer 1967-1981. He retired to Victoria BC.
 
Military Service
He was mobilized for World War Two service in 1940. He was appointed as a Lieutenant (Temp.) RNR. He served in the RNR in the Examination Service (Thames Estuary) and as Compass Swinging Officer. He served in H.M.S. Oakfield as First Lieutenant For Special Hazardous Service Operations Europe 1940. He served in RAF Elmdon for No.1 AFTS for Elementary Flying Training School 1941. He served in RAF Netheravon for No.1 Service. He served in Flying School. He served in RNAS Crail for Advanced Naval Torpedo Bomber School. He served in H.M.S. Condor (RNAS Arbroath) for Deck Landing Course. He served in H.M.S. Furious for 823 Torpedo Bomber Squadron 1941. He served in H.M.S. Cyclops for Special Experimental Project in HM Submarines 1942. He served in RAF Fighter Command for 823 Torpedo Bomber Reconnaisance Squadron 1942. He served in RAF Fighter Command for 823 Squadron as Commanding Officer. He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander RNR (With seniority dated 21/03/1943). He served in RAF Tangmere for RAF Fighter Command No.11 Group for 823 Torpedo Bomber Reconnaisance Squadron as Commanding Officer 1943. He served in H.M.S. Furious for 823 Squadron as Commanding Officer 1943. He served in H.M.S. Owl for 823 Squadron as Commanding Officer 1943. He served in H.M.S. Indefatigable for No.45 Torpedo Bomber Wing (Operational Squadrons 822 and 823) as Commanding Officer 1943. He served in RAF Ulunderpet (South India) for Naval Wing 225 Group as Commanding Officer 1944. He served in Eastern Fleet in Command of Naval Wing (Defence of Southern India and Ceylon) 1944. He served in H.M.S. Grebe (RNAS Dekheilla Egypt) as Lieutenant-Commander Flying and Personal Pilot for Commander-in-Chief Levant and Eastern Mediterannean 1944. He served in RAF Shaluffa Egypt for RAF Instructor Courses and Multi-engine qualification 1945. He was appointed as a A/Commander RNVR. He served in H.M.S. Attacker as Commander Flying for 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron 1945, (Transferred to RN) 1946. He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander RN 1946. He was seconded to Government of India (Ministry of Commerce/Ministry of Transport) as Nautical Surveyor and Examiner of Masters and Mates at Port of Bombay 1947, (Transferred to Royal Indian Navy 01/11/1949). He was appointed as a Commander RIN (With seniority dated 01/11/1949). He served in Compass Observatory Greenwich for Courses in Compass Adjustment 1950. He served in RN Admiralty London on Attachment to RN Air Stations 1951. He served in INS Sutlej (In command) and Sub-Divisional Commander 15th Frigate Squadron 1951. He served in INS Garuda as Commanding Officer and Indian Naval Barracks Angre as Commanding Officer 1953. He served in the New Zealand Defence Services College Wellington for Staff Course 1955. He served in RNAS Lee-on-Solent for High Altitude Jet Flying Course and Aero-Medicine Course 1957. He was appointed as a Captain RIN (With seniority dated 01/06/1958). He served in NHQ Indian Navy New Delhi as Director Air Staff Division 1959. He served as Captain (D) and Commanding Officer 11th Destroyer Squadron 1960. He served in the Indian National Defence College New Delhi for Staff Course 1961. He was appointed as a Commodore RIN 1962-66. He was appointed as the Chief of Naval Aviation of the Royal Indian Navy 1962-66. (He was retired on 01/12/1966.)
 
Vessels Owned
Aircraft Flown Service Aircraft Flown: Tiger Moth, Hart, Hind Battle, Swordfish, Albacore, Hurricane, Spitfire, Seafire, Barracuda, Beaufort, Beaufighter, Firefly, Hudson, Vampire, Gannet Alize, Seahawk, Allouette
Named Features
 
Anecdotes
His daughter Tara Douglas reports that "My father's official date of birth was accepted as 1915 but we now believe he might have been born in 1913. No birth record but there is a baptismal certificate that is somewhat damaged. He grew up in an orphanage missionary school in India where he was sent at the age of four. After this, he never went home again, never saw his mother, father or siblings again. So he did what he did with no help from anyone. "
 
References
MacFarlane, John and Robbie Hughes (1997); MacFarlane, John M. (1994); Starshell (NOAC Newsletter) Obituaries Winter 2008/2009; Email Communication (Tara Douglas - Nauticapedia 16/07/2016);
Last update
2016-07-16 00:00:00

© 2002-2023