# Dermot Boyle

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Marshal of the Royal Air Force (1904-1993)

Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Dermot Boyle GCB KCVO KBE AFC Boyle in 1956 Born (1904-10-02)2 October 1904 Rathdowney, Queen's County, Ireland Died 5 May 1993(1993-05-05) (aged 88) Sway, Hampshire, England Allegiance United Kingdom Branch Royal Air Force Service years 1922–1960 Rank Marshal of the Royal Air Force Commands Chief of the Air Staff (1956–59) Fighter Command (1953–56) No.1 (Bomber) Group (1951–53) RAF Staff College (1947–48) No.11 Group (1945–46) No. 85 (Base) Group (1945) RAF Stradishall (1942–43) No. 83 Squadron (1937, 1940–41) Conflicts Second World War Suez Crisis Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Air Force Cross Mentioned in Despatches (3) Commander of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) Croix de Guerre (Belgium)

[Marshal of the Royal Air Force](/source/Marshal_of_the_Royal_Air_Force) **Sir Dermot Alexander Boyle**, [GCB](/source/Knight_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath), [KCVO](/source/Knight_Commander_of_the_Royal_Victorian_Order), [KBE](/source/Knight_Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire), [AFC](/source/Air_Force_Cross_(United_Kingdom)) (2 October 1904 – 5 May 1993) was a senior officer in the [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force). He served in the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War) initially as a staff officer with the [Advanced Air Striking Force](/source/RAF_Advanced_Air_Striking_Force) in [Reims](/source/Reims) in which capacity he organised the evacuation of the Force through [Brest](/source/Brest%2C_France) in May 1940. His war service included tours as a bomber squadron commander, as a station commander and also as an air group commander. He was [Chief of the Air Staff](/source/Chief_of_the_Air_Staff_(United_Kingdom)) in the late 1950s and, in that role, deployed British air power during the [Suez Crisis](/source/Suez_Crisis) in October 1956 and defended the RAF against the views of [Duncan Sandys](/source/Duncan_Sandys), the Minister for Defence, who believed that the [V bomber](/source/V_bomber) force rendered manned fighter aircraft redundant.

## RAF career

Born the son of Alexander Francis and Anna Maria (née Harpur) Boyle, Dermot was brought up in [Abbeyleix](/source/Abbeyleix), [Queen's County](/source/County_Laois) and educated at [St Columba's College, Dublin](/source/St_Columba's_College%2C_Dublin).[1]

Boyle joined the [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force) on 14 September 1922 as a flight cadet at the [Royal Air Force College Cranwell](/source/Royal_Air_Force_College_Cranwell).[2] On successfully passing through the college, he was commissioned as a [pilot officer](/source/Pilot_officer) on 31 July 1924 and immediately posted to [No. 17 Squadron](/source/No._17_Squadron_RAF) at [RAF Hawkinge](/source/RAF_Hawkinge) where he flew [Snipes](/source/Sopwith_Snipe).[2] He transferred to [No. 1 Squadron](/source/No._1_Squadron_RAF) at [RAF Hinaidi](/source/RAF_Hinaidi) in [Iraq](/source/Iraq) to undertake air policing duties in December 1925[3][4] and, having been promoted to [flying officer](/source/Flying_officer) on 31 January 1926,[5] he transferred again this time to [No. 6 Squadron](/source/No._6_Squadron_RAF) at [RAF Mosul](/source/Mosul) also in Iraq in November 1926.[2]

Boyle attended the Flying Instructor's Course at the [Central Flying School](/source/Central_Flying_School) in March 1927 and then became a Qualified Flying Instructor there the following month.[2] Dermot Boyle and [Richard Atcherley](/source/Richard_Atcherley) together formed the school's display team while they were resident at the Central Flying School at this time.[3] Boyle was made Assistant Adjutant at [No. 601 (County of London) Squadron](/source/No._601_Squadron_RAF) at [RAF Hendon](/source/RAF_Hendon) on 5 October 1929 and was promoted to [flight lieutenant](/source/Flight_lieutenant) on 13 October 1929.[6]

[Sopwith Snipe](/source/Sopwith_Snipe), a type flown by Boyle in the 1920s

Boyle became a Qualified Flying Instructor at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in January 1930 and then returned to No. 601 (County of London) Squadron as Adjutant in January 1931.[2] He joined the Personnel Staff at Headquarters [RAF India](/source/Indian_Air_Force) in April 1933 and then attended the [RAF Staff College](/source/RAF_Staff_College%2C_Andover) in 1936.[2] Promoted to [squadron leader](/source/Squadron_leader) on 1 October 1936,[7] he became Officer Commanding [No. 83 Squadron](/source/No._83_Squadron_RAF) at [RAF Turnhouse](/source/Edinburgh_Airport) flying [Hind bombers](/source/Hawker_Hind) in January 1937.[2] He went on to be Chief Flying Instructor at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in July 1937[2] and was awarded the [Air Force Cross](/source/Air_Force_Cross_(United_Kingdom)) on 8 June 1939.[8]

Boyle served in the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War), initially as a Staff Officer at Headquarters of the [Advanced Air Striking Force](/source/RAF_Advanced_Air_Striking_Force) in [Reims](/source/Reims),[2] and was promoted to the temporary rank of [wing commander](/source/Wing_commander_(rank)) on 1 January 1940[9] (made permanent in April 1942).[10] In May 1940, when the [German Army](/source/German_Army_(Wehrmacht)) broke through, he organised the evacuation of the Force through [Brest](/source/Brest%2C_France).[11] He joined the Air Staff responsible for operations at Headquarters [RAF Bomber Command](/source/RAF_Bomber_Command) in June 1940 and again became Officer Commanding No. 83 Squadron in November 1940 now based at [RAF Scampton](/source/RAF_Scampton) and flying [Hampden bombers](/source/Handley_Page_Hampden).[2] He went on to be Assistant Secretary of the [Committee of Imperial Defence](/source/Committee_of_Imperial_Defence) in February 1941[2] and was [mentioned in despatches](/source/Mentioned_in_despatches) on 1 January 1941[12] and again on 24 September 1941.[13] Promoted to the temporary rank of [group captain](/source/Group_captain) on 1 December 1941,[14] he became Station Commander at [RAF Stradishall](/source/RAF_Stradishall) in January 1942 and Senior Air Staff Officer at [No. 83 Group](/source/No._83_Expeditionary_Air_Group_(United_Kingdom)) in May 1943.[2] He was mentioned in despatches again on 2 June 1943[15] and promoted to group captain on a [war substantive basis](/source/Substantive_rank#Types_of_rank) on 17 November 1943.[16]

Boyle was appointed [Air Aide-de-Camp](/source/Air_Aide-de-Camp) to [the King](/source/George_VI) on 1 January 1944[17] and a Commander of the [Order of the British Empire](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire) in the [1945 New Year Honours](/source/1945_New_Year_Honours).[18] He became [Air Officer Commanding](/source/Air_Officer_Commanding) [No. 85 (Base) Group](/source/No._85_Group_RAF), responsible for the various support units within [Second Tactical Air Force](/source/RAF_Second_Tactical_Air_Force),[19] with the acting rank of [air vice marshal](/source/Air_vice_marshal), on 26 April 1945[20] and went on to be Air Officer Commanding [No. 11 Group](/source/No._11_Group_RAF) in July 1945.[2] He appointed a [Commander of the Order of the Crown with Palms](/source/Order_of_the_Crown_(Belgium)) and awarded the [Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palms](/source/Croix_de_guerre_(Belgium)) by the [Prince Regent of Belgium](/source/Prince_Charles%2C_Count_of_Flanders) on 11 July 1947 for his role in liberating [Belgium](/source/Belgium).[21]

After the War Boyle stayed in the RAF, being appointed a Companion of the [Order of the Bath](/source/Order_of_the_Bath) in the [1946 New Year Honours](/source/1946_New_Year_Honours)[22] and relinquishing his rank of acting air vice marshal on 19 March 1946.[23] He attended [Imperial Defence College](/source/Royal_College_of_Defence_Studies) in 1946 and became Assistant Commandant of the [RAF Staff College, Bracknell](/source/RAF_Staff_College%2C_Bracknell) in January 1947 before being promoted to the [air commodore](/source/Air_commodore) on 1 July 1947.[24] He became Director-General of Personnel at the [Air Ministry](/source/Air_Ministry) with the acting rank of air vice marshal on 26 July 1948[25] and Director General of Manning at the Air Ministry in August 1949.[2] He went on to be [Air Officer Commanding](/source/Air_Officer_Commanding) [No.1 (Bomber) Group](/source/No._1_Group_RAF) in April 1951[2] and was advanced to Knight Commander of the [Order of the British Empire](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire) in the 1953 [New Year Honours](/source/New_Year_Honours).[26] He became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at [RAF Fighter Command](/source/RAF_Fighter_Command) with the acting rank of [air marshal](/source/Air_marshal) on 7 April 1953[27] and, having attended the [coronation](/source/Coronation) of [Queen Elizabeth II](/source/Elizabeth_II) in June 1953,[28] he was appointed a [Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order](/source/Knight_Commander_of_the_Royal_Victorian_Order) on 16 July 1953[29] and confirmed in the rank of air marshal on 1 January 1954.[30]

Boyle became [Chief of the Air Staff](/source/Chief_of_the_Air_Staff_(United_Kingdom)) and was promoted to [air chief marshal](/source/Air_chief_marshal) on 1 January 1956,[31] the first graduate of the RAF College Cranwell to be appointed to this post.[3] In this role he deployed British air power during the [Suez Crisis](/source/Suez_Crisis) in October 1956 and defended the RAF against the views of [Duncan Sandys](/source/Duncan_Sandys), the Minister for Defence, who believed that the [V bomber](/source/V_bomber) force rendered manned fighter aircraft redundant.[32] He was advanced to [Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath](/source/Knight_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath) in the 1957 [New Year Honours](/source/New_Year_Honours)[33] and promoted to the rank of [Marshal of the Royal Air Force](/source/Marshal_of_the_Royal_Air_Force) on 1 January 1958[34] before retiring in January 1960.[2]

## Later career

Boyle's uniform and medals at the [Royal Air Force Museum London](/source/Royal_Air_Force_Museum_London)

In retirement Boyle became vice-chairman of the [British Aircraft Corporation](/source/British_Aircraft_Corporation).[35] He was instrumental in founding the [RAF Museum](/source/Royal_Air_Force_Museum_London) at [Hendon](/source/Hendon) and became the first chairman of its trustees.[35] He was also vice-chairman of the [RAF Benevolent Fund](/source/RAF_Benevolent_Fund) for most of the 1970s and President of the [Royal Air Force Club](/source/Royal_Air_Force_Club).[35] He died at [Sway](/source/Sway%2C_Hampshire) in [Hampshire](/source/Hampshire) on 5 May 1993.[1]

## Family

Boyle married Una Carey in 1931; they had two sons and a daughter.[1]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-odnb_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-odnb_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-odnb_1-2) Probert, Henry A. (2004). ["Sir Dermot Alexander Boyle profile"](http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/51502). *[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography)* (online ed.). Oxford University Press. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/ref:odnb/51502](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F51502). Retrieved 14 July 2012. (Subscription, [Wikipedia Library](https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/partners/88/) access or [UK public library membership](https://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-air_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-air_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-air_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-air_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-air_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-air_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-air_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-air_2-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-air_2-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-air_2-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-air_2-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-air_2-11) [***m***](#cite_ref-air_2-12) [***n***](#cite_ref-air_2-13) [***o***](#cite_ref-air_2-14) [***p***](#cite_ref-air_2-15) ["Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Dermot Boyle"](http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/BoyleD.htm). Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 14 July 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-prob51_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-prob51_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-prob51_3-2) Probert, p. 51

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Shaw, M. *No 1 Squadron* 1986 pp.46-9 with photos ISBN 0711015813

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["No. 33142"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33142/page/1923). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 16 March 1926. p. 1923.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["No. 33551"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33551/page/7308). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 12 November 1929. p. 7308.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["No. 34329"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34329/page/6367). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 6 October 1936. p. 6367.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["No. 34633"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34633/supplement/3874). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 6 June 1939. p. 3874.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["No. 34765"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34765/page/24). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 2 January 1940. p. 24.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["No. 35525"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35525/page/1649). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 14 April 1942. p. 1649.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-prob52_11-0)** Probert, p. 52

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["No. 35029"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35029/supplement/33). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 31 December 1940. p. 33.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["No. 35284"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35284/supplement/5569). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 23 September 1941. p. 5569.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["No. 35383"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35383/supplement/7110). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 16 December 1941. p. 7110.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["No. 36033"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36033/supplement/2453). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 28 May 1943. p. 2453.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["No. 36438"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36438/supplement/1381). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 21 March 1944. p. 1381.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["No. 36396"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36396/supplement/943). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 22 February 1944. p. 943.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["No. 36866"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36866/supplement/18). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 29 December 1944. p. 18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-prob53_19-0)** Probert, p. 53

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["No. 37078"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37078/supplement/2515). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 11 May 1945. p. 2515.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["No. 38013"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38013/page/3207). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 11 July 1947. p. 3207.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["No. 37407"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37407/page/6). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 28 December 1945. p. 6.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["No. 37518"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37518/supplement/1626). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 29 March 1946. p. 1626.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["No. 38015"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38015/supplement/3255). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 11 July 1947. p. 3255.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["No. 38374"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38374/supplement/4426). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 6 August 1948. p. 4426.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["No. 39732"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39732/supplement/9). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 30 December 1952. p. 9.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** ["No. 39818"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39818/supplement/1939). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 3 April 1953. p. 1939.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** ["No. 40020"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40020/supplement/6228). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 17 November 1953. p. 6228.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** ["No. 39912"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39912/supplement/3917). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 14 July 1953. p. 3917.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** ["No. 40061"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40061/supplement/63). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 29 December 1953. p. 63.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** ["No. 40666"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40666/supplement/7307). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 27 December 1955. p. 7307.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-prob54_32-0)** Probert, p. 54

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** ["No. 40960"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40960/supplement/3). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 28 December 1956. p. 3.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** ["No. 41266"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41266/supplement/7593). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 27 December 1957. p. 7593.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-prob55_35-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-prob55_35-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-prob55_35-2) Probert, p. 55

## Sources

- Probert, Henry (1991). *High Commanders of the Royal Air Force*. HMSO. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-11-772635-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-11-772635-2).

Military offices Preceded by John Cole-Hamilton Air Officer Commanding No. 11 Group 1945–1946 Succeeded by Somerled Macdonald Preceded by Edmund Hudleston Air Officer Commanding No. 1 (Bomber) Group 1951–1953 Succeeded by Sir John Whitley Preceded by Sir Basil Embry Commander-in-Chief Fighter Command 1953–1956 Succeeded by Sir Hubert Patch Preceded by Sir William Dickson Chief of the Air Staff 1956–1959 Succeeded by Sir Thomas Pike

v t e Chiefs of the Air Staff Sir Hugh Trenchard Sir Frederick Sykes Sir Hugh Trenchard Sir John Salmond Sir Geoffrey Salmond Sir John Salmond Sir Edward Ellington Sir Cyril Newall Lord Portal Lord Tedder Sir John Slessor Sir William Dickson Sir Dermot Boyle Sir Thomas Pike Sir Charles Elworthy Sir John Grandy Sir Denis Spotswood Sir Andrew Humphrey Sir Neil Cameron Sir Michael Beetham Sir Keith Williamson Sir David Craig Sir Peter Harding Sir Michael Graydon Sir Richard Johns Sir Peter Squire Sir Jock Stirrup Sir Glenn Torpy Sir Stephen Dalton Sir Andrew Pulford Sir Stephen Hillier Sir Michael Wigston Sir Richard Knighton Harv Smyth

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dermot Boyle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermot_Boyle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermot_Boyle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.