# Eugene Gerrard

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Eugene_Gerrard
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Eugene_Gerrard.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Gerrard
> Source revision: 1351785466
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Eugene Louis Gerrard Born (1881-07-14)14 July 1881 Died 7 February 1963(1963-02-07) (aged 81) Allegiance United Kingdom Branch Royal Marines (1900–18) Royal Air Force (1918–29) Service years 1900–29 Rank Air Commodore Commands No. 1 Air Defence Group (1927–29) Palestine Command (1924–27) No. 1 Group (1922–24) Mediterranean Group (1920–21) South-West Group RNAS (1917–18) RNAS Eastbourne (1916–17) No. 2 Squadron RNAS (1914–15) No. 1 Squadron RNAS (1914) Conflicts First World War Awards Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Commander of the Order of Leopold (Belgium)

[Air Commodore](/source/Air_Commodore) **Eugene Louis Gerrard**, [CMG](/source/Companion_of_the_Order_of_St_Michael_and_St_George), [DSO](/source/Distinguished_Service_Order) (14 July 1881 – 7 February 1963) was a British officer in the [Royal Marines](/source/Royal_Marines) and [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force).

Gerrard was commissioned into the [Royal Marine Light Infantry](/source/Royal_Marine_Light_Infantry) in 1900 and served on [HMS *Hermione*](/source/HMS_Hermione_(1893)), [HMS *Defiance*](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMS_Defiance_(shore_establishment_1884)&action=edit&redlink=1), [HMS *Spartiate*](/source/HMS_Spartiate_(1898)), [HMS *Dido*](/source/HMS_Dido_(1896)), [HMS *Prince of Wales* (1902)](/source/HMS_Prince_of_Wales_(1902)) and [HMS *Vindictive*](/source/HMS_Vindictive_(1897)).

In 1911, Gerrard was one of the first four officers chosen by the [Admiralty](/source/British_Admiralty) for flying training conducted under the auspices of the [Royal Aero Club](/source/Royal_Aero_Club) – he was awarded certificate #76. Gerrard then served as a squadron commander in the newly formed [Royal Flying Corps](/source/Royal_Flying_Corps) and was posted as a flight commander to the [Central Flying School](/source/Central_Flying_School). Whilst at the Central Flying School, Gerrard set two records for flying at high altitude with passengers. On the first occasion, he flew to 10,000 feet with Major [Hugh Trenchard](/source/Hugh_Trenchard). Later, Gerrard flew to 8,400 feet with two passengers.

Following the outbreak of the [First World War](/source/First_World_War), Gerrard took up command of [No. 1 Squadron](/source/No._201_Squadron_RAF) of the [Royal Naval Air Service](/source/Royal_Naval_Air_Service). One of his first acts was to attack the [Düsseldorf](/source/D%C3%BCsseldorf) Airship Sheds in a [B.E.2a](/source/Royal_Aircraft_Factory_B.E.2). Later in the war, Gerrard was appointed as the commander of an RNAS wing in the eastern Mediterranean where he gained the [Distinguished Service Order](/source/Distinguished_Service_Order) for his leadership.

After the war he transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force.

## References

- [Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Commodore E L Gerrard](http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Gerrard.htm)

Military offices Preceded by Oliver Swann Officer Commanding Mediterranean Group 1920–1921 Succeeded by Charles Rumney Samson Preceded by Hugh Dowding Officer Commanding No. 1 Group 1922–1924 Succeeded by Robert Gordon Preceded by Sir Henry Tudor Air Officer Commanding Palestine Command Command renamed HQ Transjordan and Palestine in 1926 1924–1927 Unknown Vacant No. 1 Group recreated from the Air Defence Group previously commanded by John Hearson Title last held by Philip Herbert in 1926 Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Air Defence Group 1927–1929 Succeeded by William Foster

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