Air Marshal Sir Peter Edward Bairsto, KBE, CB, AFC, DL (3 August 1926 – 24 October 2017) was a Royal Air Force officer who served as Deputy Commander of Strike Command from 1981 until his retirement in 1984.
Sir Peter Bairsto | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Peter Edward Bairsto |
| Born | 3 August 1926 |
| Died | 24 October 2017 (aged 91) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Navy (1944–46) Royal Air Force (1946–84) |
| Years of service | 1944–84 |
| Rank | Air Marshal |
| Service number | 202703 |
| Commands | Northern Maritime Air Region (1980–81) |
| Battles / wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Air Force Cross Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air (2) |
Early life
editBairsto was born on 3 August 1926. He was educated at Rhyl Grammar School.[1]
Military career
editBairsto joined the Royal Navy in 1944 and transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1946[1] as an aircraftman. He was commissioned into the RAF Regiment with the rank of pilot officer (on probation) on 10 May 1946.[2] On 10 November 1946, his commission was confirmed and he was promoted to flying officer (war substantive).[3]
On 17 July 1947, with the end of Second World War active service, he reverted to pilot officer with seniority from 10 May 1946.[4] On 1 November 1947, he was promoted to flying officer.[5] He transferred to the General Duties Branch, the branch containing navigators and pilots, on 12 December 1951 as a flying officer with seniority from that date.[6] He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 August 1953,[7] was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in the 1955 New Year Honours[8] and an Air Force Cross in the 1957 New Year Honours.[9] In the half-yearly promotions of 1958, on 1 July, he was promoted to squadron leader.[10] In the 1960 Birthday Honours, Bairsto was awarded a further Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.[11]
He was promoted to group captain on 1 January 1969,[12] and to air commodore on 1 July 1973 in the half-yearly promotions.[13] He became Director of Operational Requirements in 1973,[14] Senior Air Staff Officer at Support Command in 1977[15] (retitled Air Officer, Training Group at RAF Support Command in 1978)[16] and Commander of the Northern Maritime Air Region in 1980.[17] He went on to be Deputy Commander of Strike Command in 1981,[18] and retired in 1984.[19]
Later life
editIn retirement, Bairsto became an advisor to Ferranti Group.[1] He also served as Deputy Lieutenant of Fife.[20] He died on 24 October 2017.[21]
Personal life
editIn 1947, he married Kathleen Clarbour; they had two sons and one daughter.[1] Following the death of his first wife in 2008,[22] he married Pamela Braid (née Gibson) on 15 May 2010 at Hope Park Parish Church, St Andrews.[23]
By July 1973, he was a Member of the British Institute of Management (MBIM).[13] He was Honorary Colonel of the 79 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) until 3 August 1992.[24]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Debrett's People of Today 1994
- ^ "No. 37605". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 June 1946. p. 2905.
- ^ "No. 37804". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 November 1946. p. 5907.
- ^ "No. 38142". The London Gazette. 5 December 1947. p. 5817.
- ^ "No. 38194". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 January 1948. p. 792.
- ^ "No. 39499". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 March 1952. p. 1678.
- ^ "No. 39935". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 August 1953. p. 4363.
- ^ "No. 40366". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1954. p. 36.
- ^ "No. 40960". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1956. p. 36.
- ^ "No. 41433". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 1958. p. 4142.
- ^ "No. 42051". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 June 1960. p. 4007.
- ^ "No. 44760". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 January 1969. p. 203.
- ^ a b "No. 46029". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 July 1973. p. 8288.
- ^ Senior Royal Air Force Appointments
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack 1978
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack 1979
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack 1981
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack 1982
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack 1985
- ^ Burke's Peerage
- ^ "Bairsto". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ Walker, Tim; Richard Eden (1 December 2009). "Strike for love at 83". Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ "Air Marshal Sir Peter Bairsto and Mrs L.D.P. Braid". Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ "No. 53008". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 August 1992. p. 13140.