Charles Steele

Charles Ronald Steele
Born	9 November 1897 Netheredge, South Yorkshire
Died	14 February 1973 (aged 75) Trumpington, Cambridgeshire
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army (1916–1918)  Royal Air Force (1918–1952)
Rank	Air Marshal
Commands held	No. 18 Squadron No. 9 Group No. 10 Group No. 85 Group AHQ Malta Coastal Command
Battles/wars	Second World War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Flying Cross

Air Marshal Sir Charles Ronald Steele KCB DFC (9 November 1897 – 14 February 1973) was a Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Coastal Command.

RAF career

Educated at Oundle School and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Steele was commissioned into the Green Howards in 1916.^[1] He transferred into the Royal Flying Corps and became a flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.^[2] He transferred into the Royal Air Force after the First World War and was granted a permanent commission on 1 August 1919.^[1] He was appointed Officer Commanding No. 18 Squadron in 1936 and served in the Second World War, initially on the Air Staff at Headquarters No. 3 Group, and then at the Rhodesian Air Training Group before being appointed Senior Air Staff Officer and then temporary Air Officer Commanding at No. 9 Group.^[1] He went on to be Air Officer Commanding No. 10 Group and then Air Officer Commanding No. 85 Group.^[1] He was made Senior Air Staff Officer at the Headquarters of the British Air Forces of Occupation in Germany in July 1945.^[1] He became Air Officer Commanding AHQ Malta in 1947 and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Coastal Command in 1950 before retiring in 1952.^[1]

References

1. Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Marshal Sir Charles Steele
2. Charles Steele The Aerodrome