Peter Bairsto

Sir Peter Bairsto
Born (1926-08-03) 3 August 1926
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Navy (1944–45)
 Royal Air Force (1945–84)
Years of service 1944–1984
Rank Air Marshal
Service number 202703
Battles/wars Second World War
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Air Force Cross
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air (2)

Air Marshal Sir Peter Edward Bairsto KBE, CB, AFC, DL (born 3 August 1926) is a former Royal Air Force officer who became Deputy Commander of RAF Strike Command.

Early life

Bairsto was born on 3 August 1926. He was educated at Rhyl Grammar School.

Military career

Bairsto joined the Royal Navy in 1944 and transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1946[1] as an aircraftman. He was commissioned into the RAF Regiment with the rank of pilot officer (on probation) on 10 May 1946.[2] On 10 November 1946, his commission was confirmed and he was promoted to flying officer (war substantive).[3]

On 17 July 1947, with the end of Second World War active service, he reverted to pilot officer with seniority from 10 May 1946.[4] On 1 November 1947, he was promoted to flying officer.[5] He transferred to the General Duties Branch, the branch containing navigators and pilots, on 12 December 1951 as a flying officer with seniority from that date.[6] He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 August 1953.[7] In the half-yearly promotions of 1958, on 1 July, he was promoted to squadron leader.[8]

He was promoted to group captain on 1 January 1969,[9] and to air commodore on 1 July 1973 in the half-yearly promotions.[10] He became Director of Operational Requirements in 1973,[11] Senior Air Staff Officer at RAF Support Command in 1977[12] (retitled Air Officer, Training Group at RAF Support Command in 1978[13]) and Commander of the Northern Maritime Air Region in 1980.[14] He went on to be Deputy Commander of RAF Strike Command in 1981,[15] and retired in 1984.[16]

Later life

In retirement, Bairsto became an advisor to Ferranti Group.[1] He also served as Deputy Lieutenant of Fife.[17]

Personal life

In 1947, he married Kathleen Clarbour; they had two sons and one daughter.[1] Following the death of his first wife in 2008,[18] he married Pamela Braid (née Gibson) on 15 May 2010 at Hope Park Parish Church, St Andrews.[19]

Honours and decorations

Bairsto was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in the 1955 New Year Honours.[20] He was awarded the Air Force Cross in the 1957 New Year Honours.[21] In the 1960 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was awarded a further Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.[22]

By July 1973, he was a Member of the British Institute of Management (MBIM).[10]

He was Honorary Colonel of the 79 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) until 3 August 1992.[23]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Debrett's People of Today 1994
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37605. p. 2905. 7 June 1946. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37804. p. 5907. 29 November 1946. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 38142. p. 5817. 5 December 1947. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 38194. p. 792. 30 January 1948. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 39499. p. 1678. 21 March 1952. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 39935. p. 4363. 7 August 1953. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 41433. p. 4142. 1 July 1958. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 44760. p. 203. 3 January 1969. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  10. 1 2 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 46029. p. 8288. 17 July 1973. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  11. ↑ Senior Royal Air Force Appointments
  12. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack 1978
  13. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack 1979
  14. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack 1981
  15. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack 1982
  16. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack 1985
  17. ↑ Burke's Peerage
  18. ↑ Walker, Tim; Richard Eden (1 December 2009). "Strike for love at 83". Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  19. ↑ "Air Marshal Sir Peter Bairsto and Mrs L.D.P. Braid". Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  20. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 40366. p. 36. 31 December 1954. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  21. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 40960. p. 36. 28 December 1956. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  22. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 42051. p. 4007. 3 June 1960. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  23. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 53008. p. 13140. 3 August 1992. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Thomas Kennedy		 Deputy Commander-in-Chief Strike Command
1981–1984 		Succeeded by
Sir Joseph Gilbert
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