Michael Beetham
| Sir Michael Beetham | |
|---|---|
Beetham as a flight lieutenant in May 1944
|
|
| Born |
17 May 1923 London, England |
| Died | 24 October 2015 (aged 92) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1941–82 |
| Rank | Marshal of the Royal Air Force |
| Commands held |
Chief of the Air Staff (1977–82) RAF Germany (1976–77) RAF Staff College (1970–72) RAF Khormaksar (1963–65) No. 214 Squadron (1958–59) |
| Battles/wars |
Aden Emergency Falklands War |
| Awards |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Flying Cross Air Force Cross King's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air |
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Michael James Beetham, GCB, CBE, DFC, AFC, DL (17 May 1923 – 24 October 2015) was a Second World War bomber pilot and a high-ranking commander in the Royal Air Force from the 1960s to the 1980s. As Chief of the Air Staff during the Falklands War he was involved in the decision to send the Task Force to the South Atlantic. At the time of his death Beetham was one of only six people holding his service's most senior rank and, excluding Prince Philip's honorary rank, and had the longest time in rank, making him the senior Marshal of the Royal Air Force.
The son of Major G. C. Beetham MC, Beetham was born in London on 17 May 1923. He was educated at St Marylebone Grammar School.
As a young man he witnessed the Battle of Britain from the ground which prompted him to join the RAF in May 1941. Promoted to leading aircraftman on 19 June 1942, Beetham was granted an emergency commission as a pilot officer on probation in the RAFVR on 13 December 1942. He was promoted to flying officer in the RAFVR on 13 June 1943.
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