60th Anniv Formation of Sqn Signed Marshal of the RAF Sir Dermot Boyle

10 Ja 75 Vallet postmark  Postmark 13 Squadron Flown Canberra from RAF Luqu Personally Signed by Personally Signed Sir Dermot Alexander BOYLE, (1904-1993), Marshal of the Royal Air Force at 17 sqn 1924 to 25

Dermot Boyle became the first ex-Cranwell Cadet to reach the position of Chief of the Air Staff.  He qualified as a QFI at the CFS in 1927 achieving a rare 'A1' rating.  Whilst serving at the Central Flying School in 1928, he led the school's display team of two Genet Moths, the other pilot being fellow instructor, Richard Atcherley.  However, he nearly did not achieve his ultimate greatness. He was carrying out a low slow roll in one of the School's Tomtits, when the engine cut out.  The aircraft crashed and was declared a write-off but Boyle walked away owing to the strength of it's metal construction.

In 1935 he had the privilege of taking The Queen Mother (then the Duchess of York) for her first flight.  This took place from the grounds of Sir Philip Sassoon's residence in a Puss Moth.  The flight resulted in an instruction from the Air Council that members of the Royal Family where not to be flown "in conditions unbecoming of their station".

Appointed to the staff of the Advanced Air Striking Force in 1939, he was tasked with the organisation of the final withdrawal of the Force’s remaining units through Brest and together with his AOC, became one of the last RAF officers to leave France.

Whilst AOC, No 1 Group, he undertook a flight from London to Valetta in a Canberra, setting a new speed record for the journey.  In 1952 he flew one of the four Canberras involved in Operation' Round Trip'.  This consisted of a seven week tour taking in 14 South American countries covering 24,000 miles.  Shortly after taking up his appointment as CAS, he undertook a tour of RAF bases in the Middle and Far East by piloting himself in a Canberra covering around 20,000 miles.   Following his retirement from active service he joined ? (Aircraft Company) becoming Vice-Chairman of the British Aircraft Corporation in 1962 until 1971.  He was also Master of the Guild of Airline Pilots and Air Navigators (1965 - 66), Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the RAF Museum (1965 - 74) and Deputy Chairman of the RAF Benevolent Fund (1971 - 80 

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