Basil Embry

{{Short description|Royal Air Force Air Chief Marshal (1902–1977)}} {{Use British English|date=August 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = [[Air Chief Marshal]] | name = Sir Basil Edward Embry | honorific_suffix = [[Order of the Bath|GCB]], [[Order of the British Empire|KBE]], [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO***]], [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|DFC]], [[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)|AFC]] | image = Sir Basil Embry (1902–1977).jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Portrait of Embry in the 1940s, by [[Francis Edwin Hodge]] | birth_date = {{birth date|1902|02|28|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Gloucestershire]], England | death_date = {{Death date and age|1977|12|07|1902|02|28|df=yes}} | death_place = [[Boyup Brook, Western Australia]] | burial_place = | nickname = | allegiance = United Kingdom | branch = [[Royal Air Force]] | service_years = 1921–56 | rank = [[Air Chief Marshal]] | unit = | commands = [[Allied Air Forces Central Europe]] (1953–56) [[RAF Fighter Command|Fighter Command]] (1949–53) [[No. 2 Group RAF|No. 2 Group]] (1943–45) [[RAF Wittering]] (1940–41, 1942) [[No. 107 Squadron RAF|No. 107 Squadron]] (1939–40) [[No. 20 Squadron RAF|No. 20 Squadron]] (1937–38) | battles = [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–1955)|North-West Frontier]] * [[Second Mohmand Campaign]] [[Second World War]] * [[Norwegian Campaign]] * [[Battle of France]] | awards = [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]] [[Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] [[Distinguished Service Order]] & [[Medal bar|Three Bars]] [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] [[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)|Air Force Cross]] [[Mentioned in Despatches]] (4) [[Legion of Honour|Commander of the Legion of Honour]] (France) [[Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (France)|Croix de guerre]] (France) [[Order of the Dannebrog|Commander 1st Class of the Order of the Dannebrog]] (Denmark) [[Order of Orange Nassau|Grand Officer with Swords of the Order of Orange Nassau]] (Netherlands) | spouse = Margaret Elliot | children = 5, including [[Paddy Embry|Paddy]] | relations = | other_work = Sheep farmer }}

[[Air Chief Marshal]] '''Sir Basil Edward Embry''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|GCB|KBE|DSO3|DFC|AFC}} (28 February 1902 – 7 December 1977) was a senior [[Royal Air Force]] commander. He was Commander-in-Chief of [[RAF Fighter Command|Fighter Command]] from 1949 to 1953.

==Early life and career== Basil Embry was born in [[Gloucestershire]], England, in 1902 and as a young boy at [[Bromsgrove School]] he developed an avid interest in aviation. In 1921 he joined the [[Royal Air Force]] with a short service [[Commission (document)|commission]] as an acting [[pilot officer]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=32271 |date=19 March 1921 |page=2472 }}</ref> In 1922 he was sent to [[Mandatory Iraq]], serving under future Air Marshals [[Arthur Harris]] and [[Robert Saundby]]. By 1926 Embry's enthusiasm, professional application, boundless energy and flair for the unconventional had put him on the fast track for promotion within the RAF, and he was rewarded with the [[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)|Air Force Cross]] in that year's [[New Year Honours]],<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33119|date=29 December 1925 |page=10|supp=y }}</ref> and appointment to a permanent commission.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33120|date=1 January 1926 |pages=47–48}}</ref>

Promoted to [[flight lieutenant]],<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33290 |date=1 July 1927 |page=4240 }}</ref> Embry returned to Britain in 1927 and soon became an instructor at the [[Central Flying School]], [[Uxbridge]].<ref name=air>[http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Embry.htm "Air Chief Marshal Sir Basil Embry (09252)"], 3 August 2019, Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation</ref> In 1934 Embry was posted to India to serve in the Indian Wing on the [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–1955)|North West Frontier]].<ref name=air/> He was promoted [[squadron leader]] in 1935,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34226 |date=3 December 1935 |page=7674}}</ref> and served in the [[Second Mohmand Campaign]] of 1935. He was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order]] (DSO) for [[Waziristan campaign (1936–1939)|operations in Waziristan]] in 1938.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34551|date=13 September 1938 |page=5834}}</ref> He was further promoted in 1938 to [[Wing Commander (rank)|wing commander]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34566|date=1 November 1938 |page=6821 }}</ref> After five years' service he returned to Britain in 1939.

==Second World War== On the outbreak of the [[Second World War]] Embry was Commanding Officer of [[No. 107 Squadron RAF|No. 107 Squadron]] flying the [[Bristol Blenheim]] bomber.<ref name=air/> The energetic Embry led his squadron from the front, and he saw extensive action during the campaigns in [[Norwegian Campaign|Norway]] and [[Battle of France|France]], often in the face of heavy losses and overwhelming opposition. On 25 September 1939 Embry led a 3-plane formation on a reconnaissance sortie into Germany. Intercepted by German fighters, Embry's aircraft suffered serious damage to wings and fuselage and he carried out a one-wheel forced landing on returning to [[RAF Wattisham]] in [[Suffolk]]. Throughout the remainder of 1939 and into early 1940 the unit made numerous attacks by day and night on a variety of targets, including [[U-boat]]s.

On 6 April 1940 RAF photo-reconnaissance revealed that a German naval force, including the battleships ''[[German battleship Gneisenau|Gneisenau]]'' and ''[[German battleship Scharnhorst|Scharnhorst]]'', was at anchor off [[Wilhelmshaven]]. Embry and his 107 Squadron crews were soon involved in a series of attacks on these ships.

With the [[German invasion of Norway]], 107 Squadron were detached to Scotland, and there carried out ten raids in just eight days on [[Stavanger]] and airfields in the area, often in treacherous weather conditions. Embry suffered from frostbite during this time. In April 1940 Embry was awarded a [[Medal bar|bar]] to his DSO.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34840|date=30 April 1940 |page=2555}}</ref> [[File:Basil Embry over burning British tanker.jpg|thumb|Embry, at the controls of a Bristol Blenheim, circles over a British tanker on fire and sinking in the English Channel, February 1940]] ===Battle of France=== The German invasion of France and the [[Low Countries]] began on 10 May 1940 and Embry's Squadron flew intensively against the German advance, each crew flying two or three sorties daily across the [[English Channel]] to France. His leadership and personal gallantry resulted in the award of a second bar to his DSO.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34927|date=20 August 1940 |page=5091}}</ref> On 12 May he led No. 107 Squadron and [[No. 110 Squadron RAF]] in an attack on two heavily defended bridges across the [[Albert Canal]] at [[Maastricht]]; the formation was savaged by ground fire and intercepted by numerous Messerschmitt fighters, losing seven [[Bristol Blenheim]]s from the original force of 24. Two No. 107 Squadron aircraft crash-landed at Wattisham, and every surviving Blenheim had suffered some damage.

Due to the tremendous pressure of his operational flying in recent months Embry was then ordered to take an operational 'rest' and was given command of [[RAF West Raynham]], with a promotion to group captain. He was to fly one more sortie before relinquishing command. On 27 May 1940, Embry was shot down from {{convert|6000|ft|m|abbr=on}} by anti-aircraft fire over [[Saint-Omer, Pas-de-Calais|Saint-Omer]] during a low-level bombing mission against advancing German Army columns. His aircraft crashed at [[Eperlecques]]. Of his crew, observer Pilot Officer T. A. Whiting was made prisoner while Air Gunner Corporal G. E. Long was killed.

Captured by the [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|German Army]], Embry was being marched away in a column of Allied prisoners when he saw a road sign "[[Embry, Pas-de-Calais|Embry]], 3 km." Taking this as a good omen, he rolled down a bank unnoticed by the column's guards and made his escape. He successfully evaded recapture for two months in occupied France before eventually getting back to England via Spain and Gibraltar. His adventures while on the run are detailed in the book ''Wingless Victory'' by [[Anthony Richardson (author)|Anthony Richardson]] and originally published in 1950.<ref>See [[#Bibliography|Bibliography]]</ref>

After two months' sick leave, Embry was posted to [[No. 6 Group RAF|No. 6 Group]] as Senior Air Staff Officer with the rank of group captain.<ref name=air/> After only three weeks he was offered command of a [[night-fighter]] wing in [[RAF Fighter Command]],<ref name=air/> which was accepted, although he reverted to the rank of wing commander. The wing disbanded in December 1940 and Embry became [[Air officer commanding|AOC]] [[RAF Wittering]],<ref name=air/> returning to the rank of group captain in March 1941.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35102|date=11 March 1941 |page=1448}}</ref> Embry kept his hand in operationally by flying radar-equipped night-fighters with [[No. XXV Squadron RAF|No. 25 Squadron]]. In July 1941 Embry was given the ceremonial title of an [[Air aide-de-camp|Air Aide-de-Camp]] to the King,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35217|date=11 July 1941 |page=3996}}</ref> and was [[Mentioned in Despatches]] in September.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35284|date=24 September 1941 |page=5569|supp=y }}</ref>

In October 1941 he was seconded to the [[Desert Air Force]] as an adviser and saw action in the [[North Africa campaign]].<ref name=air/>

Embry returned to Britain in March 1942 and served as AOC Wittering again and as AOC [[No. 10 Group RAF|No. 10 Group]], Fighter Command.<ref name=air/> In June he was again Mentioned in Despatches,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35586|date=5 June 1942 |page=2517}}</ref> but he was passed over as the prime candidate for leading [[RAF Bomber Command]]'s newly formed [[Pathfinder Force]] in July 1942, before being given command of [[No. 2 Group RAF|No. 2 Group]] Bomber Command, which was about to join the [[RAF Second Tactical Air Force|Second Tactical Air Force]] (2TAF), in June 1943.<ref name=air/>

===Command of No. 2 Group=== Although he was now an [[air vice marshal]], Embry continued to fly on operations where possible, usually as a 'wingman' in a formation and flying under the name of "Wing Commander Smith". By piloting each type of aircraft in his service, he felt better able to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of the tools available to his aircrews. This ensured that the men under Embry's command were aware that he was willing to take the same risks they were taking, and he was well liked by them. However, within the [[Air Ministry]]'s hierarchy his frank, unguarded criticisms made few friends.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}}

He pushed fervently for 2 Group's re-equipment with the high-speed [[De Havilland Mosquito]] FB VI, which became the highly potent workhorse of the group by 1944. By October 1943, Embry's efforts had made 2 Group highly effective, with its precision daylight bombing and serviceability rates among the best in the Allied Air Forces.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}} The group bombed [[V-1 flying bomb]] launch sites in France and transport targets before the [[Normandy landings|Allied landings in Normandy]] June 1944.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}} In December 1944, he was appointed a [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=36866|date=29 December 1944 |page=4|supp=y }}</ref>

Embry's Mosquitoes undertook further bombing operations such as the [[Operation Jericho|attack on Amiens jail]] in February 1944. On 31 October 1944, Embry took part in a successful low-level attack by Mosquitoes of Nos. 21, 464 and 487 Squadrons in the [[Aarhus Air Raid]] targeting the Aarhus University, Denmark, which housed the [[Gestapo]] HQ for the whole of Jutland. In March 1945, Embry's command carried out [[Operation Carthage]] on the Gestapo headquarters in [[Copenhagen]], and in April those in [[Odense]].

The three operations led to Embry being awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] for "[pressing] home his attacks with a skill and gallantry in keeping with his outstanding reputation."<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37142|date=19 June 1945 |page=3271|supp=y }}</ref> He was also honoured after the war by the Danish Government for his part in these operations, being awarded the [[Order of the Dannebrog|Commander 1st Class of the Order of Dannebrog]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37878|date=7 February 1947 |page=702|supp=y }}</ref> On 20 July 1945 he was awarded a third Bar to his DSO.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37187|date=17 July 1945 |page=3781 |supp=y }}</ref> Other nations to honour Embry included the Netherlands ([[Order of Orange Nassau|Grand Officer with Swords of the Order of Orange Nassau]]<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=38125|date=18 November 1947 |page=5423|supp=y }}</ref>) and France ([[Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (France)|Croix de guerre]], [[Legion of Honour|Commander of the Legion of Honour]]).

==Post-war career and later life== Shortly after the end of the war Embry was [[knight]]ed with his appointment as a [[Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37161 |date=5 July 1945 |page=3489 |supp=y }}</ref> He was later to receive further knighthoods with higher precedence: in 1952 he was promoted to [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath]],<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=39732|date=30 December 1952 |page=3|supp=y }}</ref> and in 1956 [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=40669|date=2 January 1956 |page=3 |supp=y }}</ref>

He was Commander-in-Chief Fighter Command from 1949 to 1953.<ref name=air/> Embry was appointed Commander-in-Chief of [[Allied Air Forces Central Europe]].<ref name=air/> His outspoken criticism of the [[NATO]] chain of command and organisation framework ensured however that he was retired early from the Royal Air Force in 1956.<ref name=air/>{{better source needed|date=May 2020}}

In 1956 Embry briefly relocated to New Zealand where he wrote his autobiography, titled ''Mission Completed''.

In March 1956, accompanied by his wife Hope, he emigrated to [[Western Australia]] and began a new life as a sheep farmer, purchasing a {{convert|1400|acre|km2|adj=on}} property at Chowerup. He also acquired land at Cape Riche, east of Albany, and moved there in the late 1960s.

Embry became active in the politics of agriculture through the [[Farmers' Union of Western Australia]]. He was elected General President in 1971 and held office for two years. In 1972 he led a delegation through South-east Asia and instigated the establishment of the Rural Traders Co-operative (W.A.) Ltd.

He was the president of the [[Royal Air Forces Escaping Society]] and worked himself at a punishing pace until he became ill in 1975. Embry died in [[Boyup Brook, Western Australia]], in 1977, and was survived by his wife, daughter, and three of his four sons.<ref name=adb>{{cite web |last1=Layman |first1=Lenore |title=Embry, Sir Basil Edward (1902–1977) |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/embry-sir-basil-edward-10120 |website=Australian Dictionary of Biography |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |access-date=29 December 2018}}</ref>

"He was both charming and rude, prejudiced and broad-minded, pliable and obstinate, dedicated and human." (Group Captain [[Peter Wykeham]], No 2 Group 1944–45)

On 19 April 2007 Spink auctioned the medal group of Air Chief Marshal Sir Basil Embry, selling for £155,350 to Michael Naxton, an agent.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928211928/http://detecting.merseyblogs.co.uk/2007/04/medals_of_unrem.html Medals of Unremitting R.A.F. Hero go under the hammer]}}</ref>

==Personal life== Embry married Australian-born Lady Margaret Hope Elliot on 1 August 1928, and went on to have five children with her,<ref name=adb /> including Western Australian politician [[Paddy Embry]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia|url=http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/MPHistoricalData.nsf/(Lookup)/05960D85B2F2C7EC482577E50028A5DA?OpenDocument|website=Parliament of Western Australia|access-date=29 December 2018}}</ref>

==References== ===Notes=== {{Reflist}}

===Bibliography=== *{{cite book| first=Anthony| last=Richardson|author2=Embry, Sir Basil| title=Wingless victory : the story of Sir Basil Embry's escape from occupied France in the summer of 1940| publisher=Shire Publications| location=Aylesbury| year=1973| orig-year=1950| isbn=0-7057-0008-9}} *{{cite book|first=Sir Basil| last=Embry| title=Mission Completed| publisher=White Lion Publications| location=London| year=1976| orig-year=1957| isbn=0-7274-0260-9}}

==External links== *{{cite web| first=Lenore| last=Layman| title=Embry, Sir Basil Edward | work=Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 14, online edition| url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/embry-sir-basil-edward-10120| access-date=28 April 2008|publisher=Melbourne University Press| year=1996| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080320075909/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140112b.htm| archive-date= 20 March 2008 | url-status= live}} *{{cite ODNB |title=Embry, Sir Basil Edward (1902–1977) |year=2004 |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/31077|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/31077}}

{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{succession box|title=Commander-in-Chief [[RAF Fighter Command|Fighter Command]]|before=[[William Elliot (RAF officer)|Sir William Elliot]]|after=[[Dermot Boyle|Sir Dermot Boyle]]|years=1949–1953}} |- {{s-new|reason=Command established}} {{s-ttl|title=Commander-in-Chief [[Allied Air Forces Central Europe]]|years=1953–1956}} {{s-aft|after=[[George Mills (RAF officer)|Sir George Mills]]}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Embry, Basil}} [[Category:1902 births]] [[Category:1977 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century Australian farmers]] [[Category:British military personnel of the Second Mohmand Campaign]] [[Category:British World War II pilots]] [[Category:British World War II bomber pilots]] [[Category:Commanders First Class of the Order of the Dannebrog]] [[Category:Commanders of the Legion of Honour]] [[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]] [[Category:Grand Officers of the Order of Orange-Nassau]] [[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] [[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]] [[Category:People educated at Bromsgrove School]] [[Category:Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)]] [[Category:British recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)]] [[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)]] [[Category:Royal Air Force air marshals of World War II]] [[Category:Military personnel from Gloucestershire]] [[Category:20th-century British farmers]] [[Category:British recipients of the Legion of Honour]] [[Category:Australian recipients of the Legion of Honour]] [[Category:Royal Air Force air chief marshals]]