| Oliver Swann | |
|---|---|
|
File:AVM Sir Oliver Swann.jpg Air Vice Marshal Sir Oliver Swann | |
| Born | November 18, 1878 |
| Died | March 7, 1948 (aged 69) |
| Place of birth | Wimbledon, London |
| Place of death | Littleton, Guildford |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy Royal Air Force |
| Years of service |
1895 – 2 November 1929 2 September 1939 – 20 July 1940 |
| Rank | Air Vice Marshal |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards |
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
Air Vice Marshal Sir Oliver Swann KCB, CBE, RAF (18 November 1878 – 7 March 1948), born Oliver Schwann, was a leading figure in the Royal Naval Air Service and senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the first half of the 20th century.
[]
In 1910 Schwann was selected to assist Captain Murray Sueter who was conducting pioneering naval aviation work with airships.[1] Later, Schwann bought an Avro Type D landplane (at his own expense with support from friends) for £700 and fitted floats to it.[1] Despite not having qualified as a pilot, Schwann managed to fly it off the water.[1] Although Schwann crashed the aircraft, this was the first aircraft take off by a British pilot from salt water.[1]
In November 1912, after Schwann had qualified as a pilot, he was appointed Assistant Director of the Air Department at the Admiralty,[2] making him deputy to Murray Sueter.[1] Over the next two years Sueter and Schwann worked to establish the Royal Naval Air Service.[1]
World War I[]
In 1914, just prior to the outbreak of World War I, Schwann was promoted to captain and assigned to port duties.[2] The following year he was appointed captain of the aircraft carrier HMS Campania, a former Cunard liner that had been converted to carry a dozen aircraft.[2] Later in the war, Schwann served as Officer Commanding the Orkneys Division.[2] In 1917 Oliver Schwann anglicized the spelling of his name to Swann.[2] With the establishment of the Royal Air Force in early 1918, Swann was transferred to the new service.[2] He served as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff during the last months of the war and into 1919.[2]
Inter-war years[]
In April 1919 Swann was appointed Air Officer Commanding the Mediterranean District and the following year his command was redesignated as the Mediterranean Group.[2] On 1 June 1920, Swann was posted to become Air Officer Commanding Egyptian Group.[2] On his return to Great Britain in early 1923, Swann became Director of Personnel.[2] Later that year his post was retitled Air Member for Personnel when Swann became a member of the Air Council with responsibility for personnel matters.[2] Swann did not spend long at home. On 27 November 1923 Swann was appointed Air Officer Commanding RAF Middle East.[2] He held this post until late 1926 and he retired from the RAF in 1929.[2]
World War II[]
During World War II, Swann was recalled to service as the Commandant of No. 1 School of Technical Training at RAF Halton.[2] He retired from the RAF for the second time in July 1940 and afterwards worked as the Air Liaison Officer for the North Midland Region.[2] Swann died only three years after the end of World War II on 7 March 1948 at his home in Littleton, Guildford.[1]
References[]
The original article can be found at Oliver Swann and the edit history here.