# Laurence Sinclair

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Sir Laurence Sinclair Air Commondore Sinclair escorts King George VI while inspecting an RAF Regiment guard of honour, at Hammamet, Tunisia, 1943. Born (1908-06-13)13 June 1908 Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, England Died 14 May 2002(2002-05-14) (aged 93) Oxfordshire, England Allegiance United Kingdom Branch Royal Air Force Service years 1926–1960 Rank Air Vice Marshal Commands Joint Services Staff College (1958–60) British Forces Aden (1955–57) School of Land/Air Warfare (1952–53) Royal Air Force College Cranwell (1950–52) No. 2 Group (1948–49) RAF Gutersloh (1947–48) Tactical Bomber Force (1943) No. 323 Wing (1942–43) No. 110 Squadron (1940–41) Conflicts Second World War Awards George Cross Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order & Bar Mentioned in Despatches (2) Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States)

[Air Vice Marshal](/source/Air_Vice_Marshal) **Sir Laurence Frank Sinclair**, [GC](/source/George_Cross), [KCB](/source/Knight_Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath), [CBE](/source/Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire), [DSO](/source/Distinguished_Service_Order) & [Bar](/source/Medal_bar) (13 June 1908 – 14 May 2002) was a [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force) officer who was awarded the [George Cross](/source/George_Cross) for rescuing a severely injured airman from a crashed and burning plane.

## RAF career

Sinclair joined the Royal Air Force as a cadet at the [RAF College](/source/RAF_College) in 1926.[1] He served in the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War) and was appointed officer commanding [No. 110 Squadron](/source/No._110_Squadron_RAF) in 1940.[1] The event that led to him being awarded the George Cross took place on 30 September 1941 at [RAF Wattisham](/source/RAF_Wattisham) in [Suffolk](/source/Suffolk).[2] The co-pilot, Sergeant S. Walters, later died of his injuries.[3] The pilot, Sergeant John Edwin Merrett, died instantly upon impact. The only other crew member to survive was the navigator, Flight Sergeant Anthony George Byron. Sinclair continued his war service as senior air staff officer at [No. 6 Group](/source/No._6_Group_RAF) and then at [No. 91 Group](/source/No._91_Group_RAF).[1] He became officer commanding No. 323 Wing in 1943 and then became air officer commanding the Tactical Bomber Force and then senior air staff officer for the [Balkan Air Force](/source/Balkan_Air_Force).[1]

After the war he became director of postings (selection) at the [Air Ministry](/source/Air_Ministry) and then attended the [Imperial Defence College](/source/Imperial_Defence_College) before being appointed senior air staff officer [No. 84 Group](/source/No._84_Group_RAF) in 1947.[1] He was made station commander at [RAF Gutersloh](/source/RAF_Gutersloh) later that year, air officer commanding [No. 2 Group](/source/No._2_Group_RAF) in 1948 and assistant commandant at [RAF Cranwell](/source/Royal_Air_Force_College_Cranwell) in 1949.[1] He went on to be commandant of the School of Land / Air Warfare in 1952, assistant chief of the air staff (operations) in 1953 and air officer commanding [British Forces Aden](/source/British_Forces_Aden) in 1955.[1] His last appointment was as commandant of the [Joint Services Staff College](/source/Joint_Service_Defence_College) in 1958 before retiring in 1960.[1]

In retirement he became the first *controller* (chief executive) of the UK's [National Air Traffic Control Services](/source/National_Air_Traffic_Services) (NATCS).[1] His medal is on display at the Victoria & George Cross Gallery in [London](/source/London)'s [Imperial War Museum](/source/Imperial_War_Museum).

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-air_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-air_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-air_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-air_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-air_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-air_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-air_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-air_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-air_1-8) [Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Vice Marshal Sir Laurence Sinclair](https://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Sinclair.htm)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – GC Holders](http://www.rafweb.org/GC_holders.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150107113705/http://www.rafweb.org/GC_holders.htm) 7 January 2015 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["No. 35048"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35048/supplement/403). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 21 January 1941. p. 403.

Military offices Recreated Title last held by Anthony Paxton in 1947 Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group 1948–1950 Succeeded by The Earl of Bandon Preceded by George Beamish Commandant Royal Air Force College Cranwell 1950–1952 Succeeded by Henry Eeles Preceded by Sidney Bufton Air Officer Commanding British Forces Aden 1955–1957 Succeeded by Maurice Heath

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