Air Marshal Sir Francis Joseph Fressanges, KBE, CB (27 February 1902 – 17 October 1975) was a senior Royal Air Force officer who served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Far East Air Force from 1954 to 1957.

Sir Francis Fressanges
Born(1902-02-27)27 February 1902
Died17 October 1975(1975-10-17) (aged 73)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1921–1957
RankAir Marshal
CommandsFar East Air Force (1954–57)
British Forces Aden (1950–52)
No. 47 Group (1944–46)
No. 95 Squadron (1941)
No. 210 Squadron (1940)
No. 84 Squadron (1935–37)
Battles / warsSecond World War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Mentioned in Despatches
Legionnaire of the Legion of Merit (United States)

RAF career

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Fressanges joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a cadet in 1921.[1] He served with No. 28 Squadron during North West Frontier operations.[2] He was appointed Officer Commanding No. 84 Squadron in 1935 and then became a Staff Officer in the Directorate of Training at the Air Ministry.[1] He served in the Second World War as Officer Commanding No. 210 Squadron and then as Officer Commanding No. 95 Squadron before becoming deputy director and then Director of Overseas Operations at the Air Ministry.[1] He completed his war service as Air Officer Commanding No. 47 Group.[1]

After the war Fressanges was appointed director of operations at the Air Ministry and then Air Officer Commanding British Forces Aden before taking over as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Intelligence) at the Air Ministry in 1952.[1] He became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Far East Air Force in 1954 and retired in 1957.[1]

Death

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He died in October 1975.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Marshal Sir Francis Fressanges
  2. ^ Beside the Bamboo Curtain Flight International, 4 October 1957
  3. ^ Trenear-Harvey, Glenmore S. (2009). Historical Dictionary of Air Intelligence. Scarecrow Press. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-8108-6294-4.
Military offices
Preceded by Air Officer Commanding British Forces Aden
1950–1952
Succeeded by
Preceded by Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Intelligence)
1952–1954
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief Far East Air Force
1954–1957
Succeeded by