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68-860: Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Cotesworth Slessor , GCB , DSO , MC (3 June 1897 – 12 July 1979) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force (RAF), serving as Chief of the Air Staff from 1950 to 1952. As a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War , he saw action with No. 17 Squadron in the Middle East, earning the Military Cross , and with No. 5 Squadron on

136-582: A combined hierarchy defined by law, whereby within one class the Order of Leopold is senior to the Order of the Crown , which is senior to the Order of Leopold II . One cannot be awarded a National Order at a level below the highest that the recipient has already received. Persons who are the subject of criminal proceedings will usually not be awarded a national order until they are declared not guilty. The Order of Leopold in

204-675: A flight commander with No. 5 Squadron on the Western Front . The squadron converted from Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2s to R.E.8s soon afterwards. Promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant on 1 July 1917, Slessor was appointed a Chevalier of the Belgian Order of Leopold on 24 September, and awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre on 11 March 1918. He transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force in April 1918 and, having been promoted to

272-574: A Knight Grand Cross of the Norwegian Order of St. Olav on 6 March 1953. Slessor was promoted air chief marshal on 1 January 1946. He continued to serve as Air Member for Personnel, responsible for overseeing the demobilisation of the wartime RAF, until 1 October 1947. At the urging of the-then Chief of the Air Staff, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Arthur Tedder , Slessor succeeded General Sir William Slim as Commandant of

340-572: A black enamel background; the reverse central disc has the face-to-face monogram "LR" (for King Leopold I); both discs are surrounded by a red enamel ring with the motto "Unity Is Strength" in French ( L'union fait la force ) and in Dutch ( Eendracht maakt macht ). The cross is topped by a crown, which might have crossed swords (military division) or anchors (maritime division) underneath it. The civil division has neither swords nor anchors. The plaque of

408-598: A diplomatic gift. The national congress provided this exclusive right to the sovereign, this military honour system was written in Article 76. The first King of the Belgians, Leopold I of Belgium , used his constitutional right in a larger way than foreseen: not only military merit, but every service in honour of the Kingdom. Two years after the independence, the young King officially founded the dynastic Order of Leopold. The king approved

476-511: A marshal of the Royal Air Force depicts five white stars (marshal of the Royal Air Force is equivalent to a five-star rank) on an air force blue background. The rank insignia and flag exists in some other air forces for equivalent ranks. The rank title differs slightly, often being a variation on marshal of the air force , usually with the name of the relevant air force in place of the words 'Royal Air Force'. A notable example of this practice

544-509: A personal marriage gift of the king. The court has sent grand cordons to other dignitaries like ambassadors, cardinals, important artists and high functionaries. As of the class of commander the decision must be approved by the Council of Ministers. Following the tradition, it is not allowed that a Belgian minister can accept this gift from the King, during the period of public office. The collar of

612-506: A personal marriage gift. In 1878 the King named several diplomatic dignitaries Grand Cordon in honour of his silver wedding celebration, among them Vannutelli . In 1900 the occasion of the wedding of Prince Albert was used to send 15 Grand Cordons to the Bavarian Court. Among the recipients were Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria and his two sons, Princes Ludwig (the future Ludwig III of Bavaria) and Arnulf , Duke Louis of Bavaria and

680-405: A slightly wider black band) above a light blue band on a broad black band. This insignia is derived from the sleeve lace of an admiral of the fleet and is worn on both the lower sleeves of the tunic or on the shoulders of the flying suit or the service working dress uniform. Marshals of the Royal Air Force wear shoulder boards with their service dress at ceremonial events. These shoulder boards show

748-507: Is headquartered in Brussels. Even though orders from different states are not always easy to compare, the Order of Leopold is modeled like the French honour system. The Legion of Honour , which is the highest French order, has the same classes and award conditions. German orders have often different older honour systems, often with only 3 classes or less. The Order of Leopold is roughly equivalent to

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816-660: Is the rank of marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force . Unlike other MRAFs who only relinquished their appointments, Sir Peter Harding resigned from the RAF in 1994. Consequently, his name was removed from the Air Force List, but it was later reinstated. Order of Leopold (Belgium) When Belgium became independent of the Netherlands, there was an urgent need to create a national honour system that could serve as

884-425: Is worn on the semi-formal dress uniform is: Since 1921, insignias of the order not awarded in wartime have to be purchased by the recipient. National orders are awarded by royal decree at fixed dates: 8 April ( Birthday of King Albert I ), 15 November ( King's Feast ), and in some cases on 21 July (Belgian national holiday) to reward meritorious services to the Kingdom of Belgium based on the career path and age of

952-843: The Battle of the Atlantic in the Allies' favour by employing his thinly stretched long-range bomber force against the U-boat threat, in close cooperation with naval forces. Promoted temporary air marshal on 1 June 1943, he was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1943 Birthday Honours . Slessor became Commander-in-Chief RAF Mediterranean and Middle East in January 1944, and deputy to Lieutenant General Ira Eaker as Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Allied Air Forces . In this role he conducted operations in

1020-528: The Casablanca Conference in January 1943, he was able to influence Britain's Secretary for Air , Sir Archibald Sinclair , and Chief of the Air Staff , Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal , to agree to USAAF proposals that led to a "round-the clock" bombing policy against Germany, with the US mounting daylight precision attacks and the RAF conducting area bombing at night. Slessor's assigned personal pilot

1088-470: The Federal Public Service (SPF/FOD) Foreign Affairs , administers the national orders and has a role of advisor in cases not fitting within a regulation. For the award of national orders for persons to which no regulation apply or has been adopted, the number of awards is limited every year by decision of the Council of Ministers ( contingent ). The classes of the national orders are integrated in

1156-764: The Italian Campaign and Yugoslavia , establishing the Balkan Air Force in the latter theatre. Slessor joined the Air Council as Air Member for Personnel on 5 April 1945. His rank of air marshal became substantive on 6 June. He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Greek Order of the Phoenix on 6 September 1946. His war service also earned him appointment as a Commander of the Belgian Order of Leopold on 27 August 1948, and

1224-487: The Italian Campaign and Yugoslavia . Slessor went on to serve in the RAF's most senior post, Chief of the Air Staff, in the early 1950s, and was considered a strong proponent of strategic bombing and the nuclear deterrent . In retirement he published two more books, including an autobiography, and held ceremonial appointments in Somerset . The son of Major Arthur Kerr Slessor and Adelaide Slessor (née Cotesworth), Slessor

1292-772: The North-West Frontier of India. He joined the staff at the Directorate of Training and Staff Duties in the Air Ministry in February 1923. The same year, he married Hermione Grace Guinness; they had a son and a daughter. He attended the RAF Staff College, Andover , in 1924, and was promoted squadron leader on 1 January 1925. Slessor commanded No. 4 (Army Cooperation) Squadron , which flew Bristol Fighters out of RAF Farnborough , from April 1925 to October 1928, when he joined

1360-655: The Princess Alexandra Hospital, Wroughton , in Wiltshire on 12 July 1979. His son John also joined the RAF, rising to the rank of group captain. Marshal of the Royal Air Force Marshal of the Royal Air Force ( MRAF ) is the highest rank in the Royal Air Force (RAF). In peacetime it was granted to RAF officers in the appointment of Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), and to retired Chiefs of

1428-474: The Royal Family and certain very senior RAF air officers in peacetime at the discretion of the monarch; all such promotions in peacetime are only honorary, however. In 2012, the then Prince of Wales was promoted to the rank in recognition of his support for his mother, Queen Elizabeth II , in her capacity as head of the armed forces (commander-in-chief), while in 2014 Lord Stirrup , who had served as Chief of

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1496-598: The Western Front , where he was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre . Between the wars he commanded No. 4 Squadron in England, and No. 3 (Indian) Wing, earning the Distinguished Service Order for operations with the latter in Waziristan . In 1936, he published Air Power and Armies , which examined the use of air power against targets on and behind the battlefield. Slessor held several operational commands in

1564-545: The air officer 's eagle surrounded by a wreath, two crossed marshal 's batons and, since the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II , the St Edward's Crown representing royal authority. Prior to 1953, the Tudor Crown (sometimes called the King's Crown) was used. The command flag of a marshal of the Royal Air Force has a broad red horizontal band in the centre with a thinner red band on each side of it. The vehicle star plate for

1632-718: The "outstanding candidate" for the Australian post, trying to avoid what he called "the follies of some years ago", referring to Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Burnett 's controversial tenure as Chief of the Air Staff in Australia on secondment from Britain in the early years of the Second World War. As leader of the RAF, Slessor coined the term " V-Force " to denote its planned trio of strategic jet bombers—the Vickers Valiant , Handley Page Victor , and Avro Vulcan —and contributed to

1700-488: The Air Staff (CAS), who were promoted to it on their last day of service. While surviving Marshals of the RAF retain the rank for life, the highest rank to which officers on active service are promoted is now air chief marshal . Although general promotions to Marshal of the Royal Air Force have been discontinued since the British defence cuts of the 1990s, further promotions to the rank may still be made in wartime, for members of

1768-512: The Air Staff and Chief of the Defence Staff for over seven years, was also promoted. Marshal of the Royal Air Force is a five-star rank and unlike the air marshal ranks, can properly be considered a marshal rank. MRAF has a NATO ranking code of OF-10, equivalent to an admiral of the fleet in the Royal Navy or a field marshal in the British Army . The rank was instituted in 1919 and

1836-772: The Belgian military , the Belgian civil society or the Belgian State . Annually, there are two major days when the king normally grants membership, 15 April ( King Philip 's birthday ) and 15 November ( Day of the Belgian Dynasty ). During state visits, the Order of Leopold is the most important diplomatic gift of the state. In 2015 some protest was noted when King Philippe offered the Grand Cordon to President Erdoğan of Turkey during his state visit in Belgium. A parliamentary question

1904-483: The Belgian court sent large numbers of crosses to the new family and its court. For the wedding of Rudolf and Stephanie the father of the bride sent 20 Grand Cordons to the Austrian Court. In return the Belgian court received decorations; these gifts were part of negotiations of the wedding. The order was bestowed by King Leopold II on Prince Karl Anton of Hohenzollern and Ernst Gunther, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein as

1972-497: The Imperial Defence College . Slessor had been dubious about accepting the position, and sought assurances from Tedder that he would be next in line for the post of Chief of the Air Staff, particularly in light of Tedder's preference for Air Chief Marshal Sir Ralph Cochrane to succeed him. Meanwhile, Slessor was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on 10 June 1948, and became Principal Air Aide-de-Camp to

2040-598: The King on 1 July. In the event, he took over from Tedder as Chief of the Air Staff on 1 January 1950, and chose Cochrane as his Vice Chief of the Air Staff. Slessor was promoted Marshal of the Royal Air Force on 8 June 1950. In late 1951, he reluctantly became involved in the Australian Government's quest for a suitable RAF officer to serve as Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Australian Air Force . He eventually selected Air Marshal Donald Hardman as

2108-529: The Military Division (with crossed swords under the crown) is mostly awarded to military personnel on the basis of their length of service, although exceptions to that rule exist where the order is presented to military personnel for exceptional or meritorious service. (e.g. awards to officers or non-commissioned officers for devoted service to His Majesy the King). The years of service that are counted to calculate

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2176-446: The Order of Leopold may be awarded to workers in the private sector or contractual employees of the public sector after fifty-five years of professional activity. The Knight's Cross of the Order of Leopold is also awarded to the members of the national and provincial committees for the promotion of labour who have reached the age of 42 after a tenure of 20 years (national committee) or 30 years (provincial committee). Founded in 1932 on

2244-459: The Order of the Crown), banker Georges Ugeux (Commander of the Order of the Crown), psychiatrist Esther Perel (Knight of the Order of the Crown), and artist Marie-Paule Martin (Knight of the Order of Leopold). The Order of Leopold is issued in five classes: All five classes come in three divisions (civil, military, maritime). No membership can be granted to a person before the age of 42, except in

2312-563: The Royal Air Force. Questioned in the House of Commons , Secretary of State for Air Sir Samuel Hoare stated that the reason for the change in title was that marshal of the air was "somewhat indefinite in character" and the new title was deemed more appropriate. It has also been reported that King George V was not happy with the title of marshal of the air, feeling it might imply attributes which should properly be reserved for God . The rank insignia consists of four narrow light blue bands (each on

2380-536: The Second World War. As Air Officer Commanding Coastal Command in 1943 and 1944, he was credited with doing much to turn the tide of the Battle of the Atlantic through his use of long-range bombers against German U-boats . He was knighted in June 1943. In the closing stages of the war he became Commander-in-Chief RAF Mediterranean and Middle East and deputy to Lieutenant General Ira Eaker as Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Allied Air Forces , conducting operations in

2448-522: The Sudan, where he was credited with arresting the escape of Sultan Ali Dinar and 2,000 men on 23 May 1916, following the Sultan's defeat at Beringia. He was mentioned in despatches on 25 October before being wounded in the thigh and invalided back to England. Slessor was promoted to the temporary rank of captain on 1 December 1916. Awarded the Military Cross on 1 January 1917, he returned to combat in April as

2516-550: The United Kingdom would be able to meet a communist offensive without resorting to the use of tactical nuclear weapons . He became one of the key propagandists of the "Great Deterrent" (which he employed as the title of a book he wrote after he retired) on both sides of the Atlantic. Slessor's term as Chief of the Air Staff was dominated by the Korean War . Completing his term as Chief of the Air Staff on 31 December 1952, Slessor

2584-736: The air planning staff at the Directorate of Operations and Intelligence at the Air Ministry. He attended the Staff College, Camberley , in 1931, and was appointed RAF Directing Staff Officer there in January 1932. Slessor was promoted acting wing commander on 1 January 1932 (substantive on 1 July). He became Officer Commanding No. 3 (Indian) Wing at Quetta in March 1935, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for operations in Waziristan between 25 November 1936 and 16 January 1937. In 1936, Slessor published Air Power and Armies , an examination of

2652-524: The awards made to officers. For awards to military personnel, there is no minimum age requirement. The order in the Maritime Division (with crossed anchors under the crown) is only awarded to members of the merchant navy, as members of the Belgian Navy are awarded the order in the Military Division. The Order of Leopold is currently almost never awarded in the Maritime Division. The Knight's Cross of

2720-460: The colour and grades both civil and military, and the official motto L'Union fait la Force/Eendracht maakt Macht . In 1832 Felix de Merode had a design approved by the Chambers for military and civil merit. This system was adapted from other European countries. More specific, the Order of Leopold is based on the French honour tradition with 5 classes. On the 11th of June 1832 the law was promulgated, and

2788-467: The decision to build all three designs. He played a key role in promoting nuclear weapons as an effective instrument of deterrence in early Cold War British strategy. In 1952, the RAF argued that, because bombers were such an important deterrent, conventional forces could be drastically reduced at a time when the Government was seeking significant public expenditure savings. Slessor believed it unlikely that

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2856-461: The eligibility of the award are not necessarily equal to the (calendar) years of duty. Additional bonuses can be earned for service in the air (a heritage coming from King Albert who want to bestow extra credit upon the pilots in the first World War , who often faced great danger in a new and experimental military branch) or on the battlefield (during wartime) and years of service as a non-commissioned officer or as enlisted personnel count as half for

2924-640: The end of World War I , the order became internationally recognised for its famous members. In 1919 King Albert granted all Lieutenant-Generals of the Belgian Army the Grand Cordon in Brussels. The King bestowed the Major Generals with the Grand Cordon, amongst the recipients some important generals like Alphonse Jacques de Dixmude , knight Antonin de Selliers de Moranville and Baron Édouard Michel du Faing d'Aigremont . Foreign recipients include admiral Hugh Rodman and Vice Admiral William Sowden Sims One of

2992-512: The exact colours were defined; Article 2: "Le ruban sera ponceau moiré". The devise was presented in the 3rd article: L'union fait la Force . The Belgian court often used the Grand Cordon as a valuable diplomatic gift. However, in the 2nd half of the 19th century, the court also used it as a dynastic order to bestow on family members during major family celebrations. The founder gave his French family Grand Cordons as wedding gifts. During weddings

3060-538: The father of the bride Karl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria . The brother of the new Princess, Duke Ludwig Wilhelm was still a minor at the time of the wedding, and Minister de Favereau opposed this wedding gift for an adolescent. However, the young prince, aged 14, received the gift by royal decree. People who fought in the Belgian revolution became members in great numbers. In 1838 the King lost his right to create members, this

3128-527: The first officer to be promoted to MRAF was Sir Hugh Trenchard in 1927. Since that time, including Trenchard, there have been 27 men who have held the rank. Of those, 22 have been professional RAF officers and five have been senior members of the British Royal Family . King George V did not formally hold the rank of marshal of the RAF; rather he assumed the title of Chief of the Royal Air Force. In this capacity from time to time he wore RAF uniform with

3196-415: The highest RAF rank. This new rank title was opposed by the then Chief of the Imperial General Staff , Sir Henry Wilson , who considered that the title was "ridiculous". However, the Chief of the Air Staff , Sir Hugh Trenchard was unmoved and the title was adopted. Though never held by a Royal Air Force officer, the rank title of marshal of the air lasted until April 1925, when it was changed to marshal of

3264-412: The military division. Only the Belgian king is entitled to chair the order and to be named Grand Master ('Grand Maître/Grootmeester'). The Grand Cordon title is reserved in general for other monarchs, heirs, foreign heads of state, generals, Cardinals, ministers of state, Prime Ministers and high diplomats. The Belgian Court has granted the Grand Cordon to all of its family members often considered

3332-419: The occasion of the centenary of the creation of the Order of Leopold as "Société d'entraide des membres de l'Ordre de Léopold" / "Vereniging tot onderlinge hulp aan de leden van de Leopoldsorde" (Mutual aid society for the members of the Order of Leopold), the Association of the Order of Leopold ( Vereniging van de Leopoldsorde in Dutch , Société de l'Ordre de Léopold in French ) is a private association, that

3400-412: The order is an eight-pointed faceted silver star for the Grand Cordon class, and a silver faceted Maltese Cross with straight rays between the arms for the Grand Officer class. The central disc has a lion on a black enamel background, surrounded by a red enamel ring with the motto as on the badge. Golden crossed swords or anchors might be added behind the medallion, depending on division. The ribbon of

3468-400: The order is in gold, with nine crowns, nine face-to-face monograms "LR" (for "Leopoldus Rex" for King Leopold I), and eighteen lions. The badge of the order is a white-enameled Maltese Cross , in silver for the Knight class and in gold for the higher classes, with a green-enameled wreath of laurel and oak leaves between the arms of the cross. The obverse central disc features a lion on

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3536-408: The order is usually plain purple. However, if the order is awarded in special circumstances, the ribbon of the Officer and Knight classes show the following variations: Stars and borders or stripes can be awarded together, but these deviations are currently only rarely awarded. The colour of the ribbon has varied during the nineteenth century from red to purple. The ribbon bar of the order, which

3604-418: The primary problem at the time is the defeat of an enemy army in the field. ... in a war against a great Naval power at sea, or when the principle threat to the Empire at the time is the action of hostile air forces against this country or its possessions, the aim and objectives of the air forces of the Empire will not be the same as described in this book. On 17 May 1937, following his posting to India, Slessor

3672-459: The rank insignia of a marshal of the RAF. He first publicly wore such uniform in 1935, the year before his death. Excluding monarchs and other members of the Royal Family, the only two RAF officers ever to have held the rank without serving as Chief of the Air Staff were Lord Douglas of Kirtleside and Sir Arthur Harris . Both held high command during the Second World War . Harris was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Bomber Command and Douglas

3740-483: The rare Ladies in the order was Countess Renée de Merode . The order can be bestowed posthumously; for example, Emile Verhaeren received the Grand Cordon after his death. Recipients can be deprived of the order, as for example happened during World War I with Alfred Wotquenne . After the Second World War , the Order of Leopold was bestowed on the several officers of foreign military forces who had helped to liberate Belgium from German occupation. Most illustrious

3808-405: The recipient. A number of different regulations rule the award of national order for the various ministries. In addition, the national orders may be awarded by the king for especially meritorious deeds. The royal decrees, except for conferrals on foreigners, are published in the Belgian Official Journal ( Belgisch Staatsblad/Moniteur Belge ). The minister responsible for Foreign Affairs, currently

3876-407: The temporary rank of major on 3 July 1918, was posted to the Central Flying School at Upavon as an instructor on 14 July 1918. Having left the RAF as a flight lieutenant on 21 August 1919, Slessor applied to rejoin and was offered a short-service commission at the same rank on 24 February 1920. In May 1921, he became a flight commander with No. 20 Squadron , which operated Bristol Fighters on

3944-406: The use of air power against targets on and behind the battlefield. In this work he advocated army co-operation, interdiction to cut off enemy reinforcements and supply, and the use of aerial bombardment as a weapon against enemy morale. He did, however, acknowledge the limitations of his theory, stating: ...the conditions envisaged throughout [this book] are those of a campaign on the land in which

4012-410: Was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Fighter Command , Middle East Command and Coastal Command . Prior to the creation of the RAF's officer rank titles in 1919, it was proposed that by analogy with field marshal , the highest rank title should be air marshal . It was later decided to use the rank of air marshal as an equivalent rank to lieutenant general and "marshal of the air" was put forward as

4080-407: Was Flight Lieutenant Owen Phillipps DFC, an Australian from No. 14 Squadron RAF and a distinguished veteran of the Mediterranean conflict. Appointed Commander-in-Chief Coastal Command with the acting rank of air marshal on 5 February 1943, Slessor had at his disposal sixty squadrons, two of which were equipped with B-24 Liberator heavy bombers. He was credited with doing much to turn the tide of

4148-459: Was appointed a Serving Sister of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem on 2 July 1963. On 24 March 1965, Slessor was appointed Sheriff of Somerset for the following year. He was commissioned a Deputy Lieutenant of Somerset in April 1969. Slessor was also a director of Blackburn Aircraft and governor of several schools. After Hermione's death, he married Marcella Florence Priest (née Spurgeon) in 1971. Slessor died at

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4216-499: Was born in Ranikhet , India , on 3 June 1897, and educated at Haileybury . Lame in both legs as a result of polio , he was rejected for army service in 1914 and received a commission as a second lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps on 6 July 1915 only with the help of family connections. He was appointed to the Special Reserve as a flying officer on 9 September 1915, and confirmed in his rank of second lieutenant on 28 September. Slessor saw action with No. 17 Squadron in Egypt and

4284-417: Was consequently submitted by Barbara Pas . In 2022, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo presented honorary distinctions on behalf of the Belgian state at Belgium's Consulate General in New York. The Belgians honored were scientist and President of the Children's Tumor Foundation Annette Bakker (Officer of the Order of Leopold), businessman and former CEO of AB InBev Carlos Brito (Grand Officer of

4352-1222: Was from then on the responsibility of the foreign office. In 1836 Meyerbeer was made knight of the Order, by royal Command. At the end of his reign the major political elite were members of the order. King Leopold II bestowed the order upon notable Belgian artists, generals and clergy. His successors continued to bestow the Order; among the thousands of recipients are some famous people like Porfirio Díaz , Pope Leo XIII , Mohamed Ennaceur , Pierre-Jean De Smet , Eugène Scribe , Alfred Belpaire , Victor Horta , Joseph Geefs , Gustave Van de Woestijne , Raymond Poincaré , Constant Permeke , Henry Morton Stanley , Lu Zhengxiang , Amschel Mayer Rothschild , Emile Claus , Fernand Khnopff , Paul Saintenoy , Joseph Jongen , Eugène Ysaÿe , Alfred Bastien , William-Adolphe Bouguereau , Antonio López de Santa Anna , Thomas Vinçotte , Mgr. Rafael Merry del Val , John Browning , James Blyth, 1st Baron Blyth , Brand Whitlock , Charles Lindbergh , George S. Patton , Bernard Montgomery , Dwight Eisenhower , Wesley Clark , Charles de Gaulle , Mstislav Rostropovich , Count Kiyoura Keigo , Count Jacques Rogge , Prince Fulco Ruffo di Calabria and Prince Emmanuel de Merode . At

4420-482: Was promoted acting group captain , and appointed deputy director of Plans at the Air Ministry. He was promoted to substantive group captain on 1 July 1937. Mentioned in despatches on 18 February 1938, he took over as Director of Plans on 22 December 1938. He was appointed Air Aide-de-Camp to the King on 1 January 1939. Slessor was promoted air commodore on 1 September 1939, and was succeeded as Air Aide-de-Camp by Group Captain Ralph Cochrane . On 10 January 1941, he

4488-402: Was raised to temporary air vice marshal (made permanent in April 1942) and became Air Officer Commanding (AOC) No.5 (Bomber) Group in May 1941. Appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath and mentioned in dispatches in January 1942, he was appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in April 1942. Slessor was closely involved in planning the combined Allied air offensive in Europe . At

4556-463: Was succeeded by Air Chief Marshal Sir William Dickson and retired from the RAF on 29 January 1953. He attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953. In retirement he published two books: his autobiography, The Central Blue (1956), and The Great Deterrent (1957). He served as Honorary Air Commodore of No. 3 (County of Devon) Maritime Headquarters Unit, Royal Auxiliary Air Force , from 23 May 1963 to 5 May 1969. His wife, Lady Hermione,

4624-432: Was the grand Cordons with Palms given by the King to Sir Winston Churchill and Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1945. The medal was also granted to Karel Bossart in 1962, and Josip Broz Tito in 1970. Today membership can only be granted by decree of His Majesty King Philippe of the Belgians and is reserved to the very most important Belgian nationals and to some distinguished foreign persons who contributed in one way to

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