page_title: Charles Elworthy, Baron Elworthy
section_title: RAF career
hierarchical_section_title: Charles Elworthy, Baron Elworthy / RAF career
caption_attribution_description: Rare colour photo from World War II showing a Bristol Blenheim being serviced
context_page_description: Marshal of the Royal Air Force Samuel Charles Elworthy, Baron Elworthy, KG, GCB, CBE, DSO, LVO, DFC, AFC was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force. He served as commander of a squadron of Blenheim bombers and then as a station commander during the Second World War. He became Chief of the Air Staff in the mid-1960s and implemented the cancellation of the TSR-2 strike aircraft and the HS681 military transport aircraft programmes. He also became Chief of the Defence Staff in which role he oversaw the evacuation from Aden in November 1967 and had to respond to the growing crisis in Northern Ireland in the late 1960s.
context_section_description: Elworthy was the son of Percy Ashton Elworthy and Bertha Victoria Elworthy (née Julius). Elworthy was also a grandson of Edward Elworthy. Educated at Marlborough College and Trinity College, Cambridge, Charles Elworthy was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn before he joined the Reserve of Air Force Officers as a pilot officer on probation on 14 August 1933. He was confirmed in the rank on 14 August 1934.
  Elworthy was granted a commission as a pilot officer in No. 600 (City of London) (Fighter) Squadron, part of the Auxiliary Air Force, where he flew Harts, with effect from 15 January 1935. He became attached to the Royal Air Force on 28 October 1935 and joined No.15 Squadron at RAF Abingdon, again flying Harts, with effect from the same date. He was granted a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force on 3 March 1936, promoted to flying officer on 3 September 1936 and became Personal Assistant to Air Chief Marshal Sir Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Bomber Command, in November 1937. Promoted to flight lieutenant on 3 September 1938, he was posted as a pilot and then a flight commander with No. 108 Squadron at RAF Bassingbourn flying Blenheim bombers in January 1939.
  Elworthy served in the Second World War, initially in a training role with No. 108 Squadron and then, having been promoted to the temporary rank of squadron leader on 1 March 1940 (made permanent in April 1942) he became Chief Flying Instructor with No. 13 Officer Training Unit in April 1940. He was appointed a flight commander with No. 82 Squadron flying Blenheims from RAF Watton in August 1940 and then Officer Commanding No. 82 Squadron in December 1940. He was awarded the Air Force Cross on 1 January 1941 and the Distinguished Flying Cross on 7 March 1941. In March 1941, despite heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire, he scored a direct hit on an enemy tanker, setting it on fire: he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for this on 22 April 1941.
  Elworthy joined the air staff responsible for operations at Headquarters No. 2 Group in May 1941, was promoted to the rank of wing commander on a temporary basis on 1 September 1941 and mentioned in despatches on 24 September 1941. He transferred to the air staff responsible for operations at Headquarters RAF Bomber Command in October 1941 and became Group Captain responsible for operations there in May 1942. Promoted to wing commander on a war substantive basis on 9 November 1942, he was mentioned in despatches again on 1 January 1943. He became Station Commander at RAF Waddington in April 1943 and was mentioned in despatches yet again on 14 January 1944. In April 1944 he was made Bomber Command's Representative to Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder, who was then serving as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force. He was, in this role, closely involved in the planning for operations to cut German rail communications. He was made Senior Air Staff Officer at No. 5 Group in August 1944: in this role he was closely involved in the sinking of the Tirpitz in November 1944. He was promoted to group captain on a war substantive basis on 22 February 1945.
  After the war, Elworthy joined the staff at the Central Bombing Establishment at RAF Marham. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1946. He became Senior Air Staff Officer at No. 2 (Indian) Group in March 1947 and the first commanding officer of the Royal Pakistan Air Force Station, Drigh Road (now PAF Base Faisal) on 1 November 1947. He attended the Combined Staff College from May 1949 and was promoted to group captain on 1 July 1949. He went on to be Deputy Director of Personnel at the Air Ministry in December 1949, Station Commander at RAF Tangmere in December 1951 and Station Commander at RAF Odiham in March 1953. Appointed a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order on 16 July 1953 he became Commander of the Metropolitan Sector in December 1953. Promoted to air commodore on 1 January 1956, he attended the Imperial Defence College in 1956 and became Co
caption: Bristol Blenheim, a type flown by Elworthy during the Second World War
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