Military Wiki
Sir John Gingell
Born (1925-02-03)February 3, 1925
Died December 10, 2009(2009-12-10) (aged 84)
Allegiance Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force Royal Air Force
Years of service 1945–1984
Rank Air Chief Marshal
Commands held No. 27 Squadron
No. 23 Group
RAF Support Command
Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order

Air Chief Marshal Sir John Gingell, GBE, KCB, KCVO, RAF (3 February 1925 – 10 December 2009)[1] was a senior Royal Air Force commander.

Military career[]

Educated at St Boniface's Catholic College in Plymouth, Gingel was commissioned into the RAFVR in April 1945.[2] A few months later he transferred into the RNVR, serving in the Fleet Air Arm. In 1951 he returned to the Royal Air Force was posted to flying duties on No. 58 Squadron.[2] In 1963 he was appointed Officer Commanding No. 27 Squadron flying Vulcan B2s equipped with Blue Steel missiles and in 1966 he became Deputy Director of the Defence Operations Staff at the Ministry of Defence.[2] He went on to be Military Assistant to Chairman of the Military Committee at NATO Headquarters in 1968, Air Officer Administration at Headquarters RAF Germany in 1970 and Air Officer Commanding No. 23 Group in 1974.[2] After that he became Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Policy) in 1975, Air Member for Personnel in 1978 and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Support Command in 1980.[2] His last appointment was as Deputy Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Central Europe in 1981 before he retired in 1984.[2]

In retirement Gingell served as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in the Houses of Parliament until 1992.[3]

Family[]

In 1949 he married Prudence Johnson; they had two sons and a daughter.[4][5]

References[]

Military offices
Preceded by
Sir John Aiken
Air Member for Personnel
1978 – 1980
Succeeded by
Sir Charles Ness
Preceded by
Sir Keith Williamson
Commander-in-Chief Support Command
1980–1981
Succeeded by
Sir Michael Beavis
Preceded by
Sir Peter Terry
Deputy Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Central Europe
1981 – 1984
Succeeded by
Sir Michael Beavis
Government offices
Preceded by
Sir David House
Black Rod
1985–1992
Succeeded by
Sir Richard Thomas
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