Biographical Data

Kerby, Harold Spencer

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Title Air Vice-Marshal (RAF)
Official Number (nk)
 
Birth 14/05/1893 Death 08/06/1963
Place Hamilton Place London
Area ON Area
Country Canada Country UK
 
Titles
Honours CB. DSC. AFC. Commander of the Legion of Merit (USA).
Awards
Qualifications
 
Biography
His home was in Calgary where his father was Mayor. He worked as a mechanical engineer and attended the University of Toronto.
 
Military Service
He joined the Royal Naval Air Service at Hendon UK and was appointed as a Probationary Flight Sub-Lieutenant (Temp.) RNAS (With seniority dated 21/03/1915). He was posted to #3 (Naval) Squadron in the Dardanelles on 12/06/1915 and wounded on 26/11/1915. He was appointed as a Flight Lieutenant (Temp.) RNAS. He served in RNAS Chingford 04/05/1915. He joined #3 (N) Squadron in Dardenelles 12/06/1915 and wounded there 26/11/1915. He was appointed as a Flight Lieutenant (Temp.) RNAS (With seniority dated 12/1915). He served in Cranwell 27/12/1916. He served in France 12/1916. He served in Dover Air Station 19/01/1917. He served in Dunkirk (#9 Naval Squadron) 28/01/1917. He served in #3 (N) Squadron 29/03/1917. He served in AG and FS Midlands Area 18/05/1918. He served in Air Ministry 20/11/1918. He served in #4 Flying School 20/11/1918. He served with the BEF 23/03/1919. He served in #4 Flying School 08/04/1919. (Transferred to RAF 1918). He was appointed as a Major RAF. He served in India 1923-29. He served in Air Ministry 1929-34. He served in RAF Singapore 1935. He served as Air Attache British Embassy in China 1936-39. He was appointed as a Group Captain RAF 1939. He served in RAF Advanced Air Striking Force (France) 1939-40. He was appointed as a Commodore RAF 1941. He served in RAF HQ Northern Ireland 1941-42. He served as Air Officer Commanding RAF East Africa 1943-44. He was appointed as a Air Vice Marshall RAF 1943. He served as Air Officer-in-Command Administration Coastal Command 1944-46. He remained in the RAF postwar and commanded British Advanced Air Striking Force in France, 1939-1940. He served as AOC Air Headquarters, East Africa and Coastal Command. (He retired 1946.) (During the first World War he was reported once to have thrown his life preserver to a downed German pilot following scrap with eight other planes.)
 
Vessels Owned
Aircraft Flown
Named Features
 
Anecdotes
 
 
References
Hiorth, D. (1995); Grant, Scottie & Bob Murray (nd); MacFarlane, John and Robbie Hughes (1997); MacFarlane, John M. (1994); Blatherwick, John (1992); http://airforce.ca/uploads/airforce/2009/07/gong-5i-l.html
Last update
2011-01-31 00:00:00

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