John Frederick Powell

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John Frederick Powell
Born(1915-06-12)12 June 1915
Somerset, England
Died24 November 2008(2008-11-24) (aged 93)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1939–1972
RankAir Vice Marshal
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsOfficer of the Order of the British Empire
Mentioned in Despatches

Air Vice Marshal John Frederick Powell, OBE (12 June 1915 – 24 November 2008) was a long-serving officer at RAF College Cranwell.[1]

RAF career[edit]

Powell was born in Somerset, and was educated at King's College School, Cambridge,[2] Lancing College and King's College, Cambridge. He was commissioned into the special duties branch of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1939 and spent the Second World War with RAF Coastal Command in the operations room at RAF Aldergrove (1939–1945). He flew on operational sorties against U-boats and was mentioned in despatches.

After spells spent with the Air Ministry and the Ministry of Defence, Powell was appointed Command Education Officer, Bomber Command Headquarters (1964–1966) and then Officer Commanding RAF School of Education (1966–1967). He was elevated to the rank of air vice marshal in 1967 upon being appointed Director of Education Services, RAF. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1956.

Personal life[edit]

Powell married his wife Ysolda in 1939 and had four sons:

Powell died on 24 November 2008.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Air Vice-Marshal John Powell". The Daily Telegraph. 2 December 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  2. ^ Henderson, RJ (1981). A History of King's College Choir School Cambridge. ISBN 978-0950752808.

External links[edit]