Denis Spotswood Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Denis Frank Spotswood GCB , CBE , DSO , DFC ( 26 September 1916 – 11 November 2001 ) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force . He fought in World War II as a flying boat pilot and then as a coastal reconnaissance squadron commander during Operation Torch , the invasion of North Africa . He served as a station commander in the late 1940s and early 1950s before becoming a senior air commander in the late 1950s . As the Chief of the Air Staff in the early 1970s he had a major role in implementing the defence savings demanded by the Heath Government in the face of economic difficulties at the time . RAF career . The son of Frank Henry Spotswood and Maud Caroline Spotswood ( née Booth ) , Spotswood was educated at Kingston Grammar School before joining the Evening Standard as a trainee journalist in 1932 . He decided to change career and joined the Royal Air Force , being commissioned as an acting pilot officer on 14 April 1936 and , after completing flying training , he was confirmed in the appointment on 6 January 1937 . He was posted to No . 220 Squadron flying Ansons from RAF Bircham Newton in 1936 in January 1937 and then transferred to No . 201 Squadron flying Southampton flying boats from RAF Calshot in October 1937 and then to No . 209 Squadron flying Singapore and Stranraer flying boats from RAF Invergordon in February 1938 . Spotswood served in World War II initially undertaking patrols of the Western Approaches using the new Lerwick flying boats and then the new Catalina flying boats of No . 209 Squadron . He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 3 September 1940 , and mentioned in despatches on 24 September 1941 . Promoted to the rank of squadron leader on a temporary basis on 1 December 1941 , he became Officer Commanding No . 500 Squadron flying Hudson coastal reconnaissance aircraft from RAF St Eval in April 1942 . Promoted to squadron leader on a war substantive basis on 18 July 1942 , Spotswood and his squadron were deployed to Gibraltar in November 1942 to take part in Operation Torch , the invasion of North Africa . He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 10 November 1942 . Spotswood joined the Air Staff in the Directorate of Operations at the Air Ministry in April 1943 , before attending the RAF Staff College , Bulstrode Park for much of the remainder of the year . He was mentioned in despatches again on 2 June 1943 and awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 28 September 1943 . He was appointed Director of Plans at the Headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia in February 1944 and became a wing commander on a temporary basis on 1 July 1944 and on a war substantive basis on 11 August 1944 . He was promoted to squadron leader on a permanent basis on 1 September 1945 . Appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1946 New Year Honours , Spotswood joined the Directing Staff at the RAF Staff College , Bracknell in February 1946 and was promoted to wing commander on 1 July 1947 . After becoming Station Commander at RAF Horsham St Faith in December 1947 and then Station Commander at RAF Coltishall in January 1948 , he was made an Officer of the Legion of Merit by the President of the United States on 9 March 1948 . After attending the Air Defence Course at the School of Land / Air Warfare as well as the jet conversion course , Spotswood joined the Directing Staff at the Imperial Defence College in March 1950 . He was sent on an exchange posting to the Tactical Operations Plans Branch at Headquarters United States Air Force in June 1952 , and having been promoted to group captain on 1 January 1954 , he became Station Commander at RAF Linton - on - Ouse in August 1954 . He went on to be Deputy Director of Plans at the Air Ministry in October 1956 and , having been appointed Aide - de - Camp to the Queen on 18 June 1957 , he became Commandant at the RAF College Cranwell in August 1958 . He was promoted to air commodore on 1 January 1960 . Appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1961 New Year Honours , Spotswood became Assistant Chief of the Staff ( Air Defence ) at SHAPE in June 1961 . Promoted to air vice - marshal on 1 July 1961 , he became Chairman of the Pathfinder Study Group in November 1963 , charged with determining the shape , size and cost of the RAF front line . His main recommendation , which was implemented , was to merge RAF Fighter Command and RAF Bomber Command to form RAF Strike Command . He went on to be Air Officer Commanding No . 3 Bomber Group in August 1964 and Commander - in - Chief RAF Germany as well as Commander of the Second Tactical Air Force on 6 December 1965 . Having been advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1966 Birthday Honours and been promoted to air marshal on 1 July 1966 , Spotswood became Commander - in - Chief RAF Strike Command on 26 August 1968 . He was promoted to air chief marshal on 1 November 1968 , and appointed Air Aide - de - Camp to the Queen on 7 July 1970 . Advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1971 New Year Honours , he became Chief of the Air Staff on 1 April 1971 . As Chief of the Air Staff he had a major role in implementing the defence savings demanded by the Heath Government in the face of economic difficulties at the time . Spotswood presented Prince Charles with his ' wings ' at the end of his flying training in August 1971 . Spotswood was promoted to Marshal of the Royal Air Force on 31 March 1974 and retired on the same day . Later life . In retirement Spotswood became Deputy Chairman of Rolls - Royce , a Director of Dowty Group and then a Director of Smiths Industries . He also became Chairman of the Trustees of the RAF Museum and of the Royal Star and Garter Home . He died of cancer at Thamesfield Care Home in Henley - on - Thames on 11 November 2001 . Personal life . In July 1942 he married Margaret Ann Child ; they had one son . His interests included golf and gardening . Sources .