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{{Short description|Royal Air Force Air Chief Marshal (1924–2020)}}
{{Distinguish|David Evans (RAAF officer)}}
{{Distinguish|David Evans (RAAF officer)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name= Sir David Evans
|name= Sir David Evans
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|image=
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|birth_date= {{birth date and age|df=yes|1924|7|14}}
|image_size=
|birth_place=
|alt=
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|death_place=
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|image=
|caption=
|caption=
|nickname= Paddy
|nickname= Paddy
|birth_date= {{Birth date|1924|7|14|df=yes}}<ref>[https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-15150?rskey=gaFZR2&result=19 Who's Who 2020: Evans, Air Chief Marshal Sir David (George)]</ref>
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|allegiance= {{flag|United Kingdom}}
|birth_place= [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]], [[Ontario]], Canada
|branch= {{Air force|United Kingdom}}
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|death_date= {{Death date and age|2020|2|21|1924|7|14|df=yes}}
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|serviceyears=
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|death_place=
|placeofburial=
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|allegiance= United Kingdom
|branch= [[Royal Air Force]]
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|serviceyears= 1944–83
|rank= [[Air Chief Marshal]]
|rank= [[Air Chief Marshal]]
|servicenumber= 164718
|servicenumber=
|unit=
|commands= [[No. 1 Group RAF|No.1 Group]]<br>[[RAF Strike Command|Strike Command]]
|commands= [[Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff]] (1981–83)<br/>[[RAF Strike Command|Strike Command]] (1977–80)<br/>[[Vice-Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Vice-Chief of the Air Staff]] (1976–77)<br/>[[No. 1 Group RAF|No.&nbsp;1 Group]] (1973–75)
|battles= [[World War II]]
|battles= [[Second World War]]
|awards= [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]<br>[[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
|awards= [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]<br/>[[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]<br/>[[Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air]]
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
}}
[[Air Chief Marshal]] '''Sir David George Evans''' [[Order of the Bath|GCB]], [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]], [[RAF]] (born 14 July 1924) was a senior commander in the [[Royal Air Force]].
[[Air Chief Marshal]] '''Sir David George Evans''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|GCB|CBE}} (14 July 1924 – 21 February 2020) was a Canadian-British [[Royal Air Force]] officer.


==Early life==
==Career==
⚫
Born and educated in Canada, Evans was [[Commissioned officer|commissioned]] into the [[Royal Air Force]] as a [[pilot officer]] under an emergency commission<ref name="LG 16 June 1944">{{London Gazette| issue=36570 |supp=y |page=2920 |date=16 June 1944 }}</ref> on 7 April 1944 during the [[Second World War]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36570|supp=y|page=2924|date=16 June 1944}}</ref> He underwent pilot training in Canada and he then completed operational training in [[Ismaïlia]] in Egypt.<ref name=putnam>{{Cite web |url=http://library.paisley.ac.uk/services/specialcoll/putnam/ptn90.htm |title=90/12 The Putnam Aeronautical Review, issue number 6 |access-date=24 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208163945/http://library.paisley.ac.uk/services/specialcoll/putnam/ptn90.htm |archive-date=8 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 7 October 1944, he was promoted to [[flying officer]] (war substantive).<ref name="LG 24 October 1944">{{London Gazette |issue=36766 |date=24 October 1944 |pages=4915–4916 |supp=y }}</ref> Evans was one of the first RAF officers to enter [[Bergen-Belsen concentration camp]].<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2020/03/01/air-chief-marshal-sir-david-evans-second-world-war-pilot-cold/|title=Air Chief Marshal Sir David Evans, Second World War pilot and Cold War senior officer – obituary|work=The Telegraph|location=UK|date=1 March 2020|accessdate=1 March 2020|last1=Obituaries|first1=Telegraph}}</ref>
He was born and educated in [[Canada]].


He was promoted to [[flight lieutenant]] (war substantive) on 7 April 1946.<ref name="LG 30 April 1946">{{London Gazette |issue=37553 |date=30 April 1946 |page=2129 }}</ref> His promotion to flying officer was confirmed on 30 September 1947 with seniority from 7 April 1946.<ref name="LG 28 November 1947">{{London Gazette |issue=38137 |date=28 November 1947 |page=5703 }}</ref> Evans was promoted to the substantive rank of flight lieutenant on 29 October 1948,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=38573|supp=y|page=1587|date=29 March 1949}}</ref> with promotions to squadron leader on 1 October 1954,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=40289|supp=y|page=5553|date=1 October 1954}}</ref> to wing commander on 1 July 1959 and to group captain on 1 July 1964.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=41753|supp=y|page=4227|date=26 June 1959}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=43372|supp=y|page=5719|date=30 June 1964}}</ref>
==Military career==
⚫
Evans was [[Commissioned officer|commissioned]] into the [[Royal Air Force]] as a [[pilot officer]] under an emergency commission<ref name="LG 16 June 1944">{{London Gazette| issue=36570 |supp=yes |startpage=2920 |date=16 June 1944 |accessdate=24 March 2012}}</ref> on 7 April 1944 during [[World War II]].<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=36570|supp=yes|startpage=2924|date=16 June 1944|accessdate=24 April 2010}}</ref> He underwent pilot training in Canada and he then completed in operational training in [[Ismaïlia]] in [[Egypt]].<ref name=putnam>[http://library.paisley.ac.uk/services/specialcoll/putnam/ptn90.htm 90/12 The Putnam Aeronautical Review, issue number 6]</ref> On 7 October 1944, he was promoted to [[Flying Officer]] (War substantive).<ref name="LG 24 October 1944">{{London Gazette |issue=36766 |date=24 October 1944 |startpage=4915 |endpage=4916 |supp=yes |accessdate=29 March 2012}}</ref> He was promoted to [[Flight Lieutenant]] (War substantive) on 7 April 1946.<ref name="LG 30 April 1946">{{London Gazette |issue=37553 |date=30 April 1946 |startpage=2129 |endpage= |supp= |accessdate=29 March 2012}}</ref> His promotion to Flying Officer was confirmed on 30 September 1947 with seniority from 7 April 1946.<ref name="LG 28 November 1947">{{London Gazette |issue=38137 |date=28 November 1947 |startpage=5703 |endpage= |supp= |accessdate=29 March 2012}}</ref>


He piloted the British [[bobsleigh]] team at the 1964 Olympics.<ref name="Telegraph" />
⚫
In 1973 Evans was made [[Air Officer Commanding]] [[No. 1 Group RAF|No.1 Group]], in 1976 he was appointed [[Vice-Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Vice Chief of the Air Staff]]<ref>[http://www.rafweb.org/AirMin2A.htm Air Council Appointments 2]</ref> and he went on to be [[Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] [[RAF Strike Command]] the following year.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=47184|supp=yes|startpage=4286|date=28 March 1977|accessdate=24 April 2010}}</ref> He was [[Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff]] from 1981 to 1983.<ref name=putnam/>

⚫
In 1973 Evans was made [[Air Officer Commanding]] [[No. 1 Group RAF|No.&nbsp;1 Group]], in 1976 he was appointed [[Vice-Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Vice Chief of the Air Staff]]<ref>[http://www.rafweb.org/AirMin2A.htm Air Council Appointments 2] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010055651/http://www.rafweb.org/AirMin2A.htm |date=10 October 2007 }}</ref> and he went on to be [[Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] [[RAF Strike Command]] the following year.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=47184|supp=y|page=4286|date=28 March 1977}}</ref> He was [[Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff]] from 1981 to 1983.<ref name=putnam/>


==Later life==
==Later life==
In retirement, Evans became a Non-Executive Director of [[British Aerospace]].<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1989/1989%20-%200237.html British Aerospace] Flight International, 1989</ref>
In retirement, Evans became a Non-Executive Director of [[British Aerospace]].<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1989/1989%20-%200237.html British Aerospace] Flight International, 1989</ref> He retained his Canadian citizenship and made many visits there.<ref>{{Cite ODNB|title=Evans, Sir David George|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-90000381614}}</ref> He was an honorary citizen of Winnipeg, Canada, Shreveport-Bossier City, United States, and the town of Dunnville, Ontario.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/air-chief-marshal-sir-david-evans-obituary-3mf5f83nw|title=Air Chief Marshal Sir David Evans obituary|newspaper=The Times|date=27 March 2020|access-date=20 April 2024}}</ref> He died on 21 February 2020.<ref name="Telegraph"/>


==Awards and decorations==
==Awards and decorations==
On 9 June 1955, Squadron Leader Evans was awarded the [[Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air]].<ref name="LG 3 June 1955">{{London Gazette |issue=40497 |date=3 June 1955 |page=3293 |supp=y }}</ref>


On 9 June 1955, Squadron Leader Evans was awarded the [[Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service|Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air]].<ref name="LG 3 June 1955">{{London Gazette |issue=40497 |date=3 June 1955 |startpage=3293 |endpage= |supp=yes |accessdate=29 March 2012}}</ref>
In 1985 he was made [[King of Arms of the Order of the Bath]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=50025|page=1565|date=4 February 1985}}</ref>

In 1985 he was made [[King of Arms of the Order of the Bath]].<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=50025|supp=|startpage=1565|date=4 February 1985|accessdate=24 April 2010}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|30em}}


{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-mil}}
⚫
{{s-bef|before=[[Patrick Howard-Dobson|Sir Patrick Howard-Dobson]]}}
⚫
{{s-ttl|title=[[Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff]] |years=1981–1983}}
⚫
{{s-aft|after=[[Peter Herbert (Royal Navy officer)|Sir Peter Herbert]]}}
⚫
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Nigel Maynard|Sir Nigel Maynard]]}}
{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Commander-in-Chief [[RAF Strike Command]]}}|years=1977–1980}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Keith Williamson|Sir Keith Williamson]]}}
|-
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Ruthven Wade|Sir Ruthven Wade]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Ruthven Wade|Sir Ruthven Wade]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Vice Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Vice-Chief of the Air Staff]]|years=1976 &ndash; 1977}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Vice-Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Vice-Chief of the Air Staff]]|years=1976–1977}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Peter Terry|Sir Peter Terry]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Peter Terry|Sir Peter Terry]]}}
|-
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Nigel Maynard|Sir Nigel Maynard]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Peter Horsley]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commander-in-Chief [[RAF Strike Command]] |years=1977&ndash;1980}}
{{s-ttl|title=Air Officer Commanding [[No. 1 Group RAF|No. 1 Group]] |years=1973–1975}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Keith Williamson|Sir Keith Williamson]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Philip Lagesen]]}}
⚫
|-
⚫
{{s-bef|before=[[Patrick Howard-Dobson|Sir Patrick Howard-Dobson]]}}
⚫
{{s-ttl|title=[[Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff]] |years=1981&ndash;1983}}
⚫
{{s-aft|after=[[Peter Herbert (Royal Navy officer)|Sir Peter Herbert]]}}
|-
|-
{{s-herald}}
{{s-herald}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Michael Pollock|Sir Michael Pollock]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Michael Pollock (Royal Navy officer)|Sir Michael Pollock]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[King of Arms of the Order of the Bath]]
{{s-ttl|title=[[King of Arms of the Order of the Bath]]
|years=1985&ndash;1999}}
|years=1985–1999}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Brian Kenny (British Army officer)|Sir Brian Kenny]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Brian Kenny (British Army officer)|Sir Brian Kenny]]}}
{{end}}
{{end}}
{{Vice Chiefs of Defence Staff|state=collapsed}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Evans, David
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Royal Air Force air marshals
| DATE OF BIRTH = 14 July 1924
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, David}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, David}}
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force air marshals]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force air marshals]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Canadian military personnel from Ontario]]
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriates in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:British people of Canadian descent]]
[[Category:Canadian Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]

[[Category:Canadian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]


{{RAF-bio-stub}}
{{RAF-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 18:52, 20 April 2024

Not to be confused with David Evans (RAAF officer).

Sir David Evans
Nickname(s)Paddy
Born(1924-07-14)14 July 1924[1]
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Died21 February 2020(2020-02-21) (aged 95)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1944–83
RankAir Chief Marshal
Commands heldVice-Chief of the Defence Staff (1981–83)
Strike Command (1977–80)
Vice-Chief of the Air Staff (1976–77)
No. 1 Group (1973–75)
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

Air Chief Marshal Sir David George Evans, GCB, CBE (14 July 1924 – 21 February 2020) was a Canadian-British Royal Air Force officer.

Career

[edit]

Born and educated in Canada, Evans was commissioned into the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer under an emergency commission[2] on 7 April 1944 during the Second World War.[3] He underwent pilot training in Canada and he then completed operational training in Ismaïlia in Egypt.[4] On 7 October 1944, he was promoted to flying officer (war substantive).[5] Evans was one of the first RAF officers to enter Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.[6]

He was promoted to flight lieutenant (war substantive) on 7 April 1946.[7] His promotion to flying officer was confirmed on 30 September 1947 with seniority from 7 April 1946.[8] Evans was promoted to the substantive rank of flight lieutenant on 29 October 1948,[9] with promotions to squadron leader on 1 October 1954,[10] to wing commander on 1 July 1959 and to group captain on 1 July 1964.[11][12]

He piloted the British bobsleigh team at the 1964 Olympics.[6]

In 1973 Evans was made Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group, in 1976 he was appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff[13] and he went on to be Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Strike Command the following year.[14] He was Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff from 1981 to 1983.[4]

Later life

[edit]

In retirement, Evans became a Non-Executive Director of British Aerospace.[15] He retained his Canadian citizenship and made many visits there.[16] He was an honorary citizen of Winnipeg, Canada, Shreveport-Bossier City, United States, and the town of Dunnville, Ontario.[17] He died on 21 February 2020.[6]

Awards and decorations

[edit]

On 9 June 1955, Squadron Leader Evans was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.[18]

In 1985 he was made King of Arms of the Order of the Bath.[19]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Who's Who 2020: Evans, Air Chief Marshal Sir David (George)
  2. ^ "No. 36570". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 1944. p. 2920.
  3. ^ "No. 36570". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 1944. p. 2924.
  4. ^ a b "90/12 The Putnam Aeronautical Review, issue number 6". Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  5. ^ "No. 36766". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 October 1944. pp. 4915–4916.
  6. ^ a b c Obituaries, Telegraph (1 March 2020). "Air Chief Marshal Sir David Evans, Second World War pilot and Cold War senior officer – obituary". The Telegraph. UK. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  7. ^ "No. 37553". The London Gazette. 30 April 1946. p. 2129.
  8. ^ "No. 38137". The London Gazette. 28 November 1947. p. 5703.
  9. ^ "No. 38573". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 March 1949. p. 1587.
  10. ^ "No. 40289". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 October 1954. p. 5553.
  11. ^ "No. 41753". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 June 1959. p. 4227.
  12. ^ "No. 43372". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 June 1964. p. 5719.
  13. ^ Air Council Appointments 2 Archived 10 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "No. 47184". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 March 1977. p. 4286.
  15. ^ British Aerospace Flight International, 1989
  16. ^ "Evans, Sir David George". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  17. ^ "Air Chief Marshal Sir David Evans obituary". The Times. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  18. ^ "No. 40497". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 June 1955. p. 3293.
  19. ^ "No. 50025". The London Gazette. 4 February 1985. p. 1565.
Military offices
Preceded by Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff
1981–1983 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command
1977–1980 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice-Chief of the Air Staff
1976–1977 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group
1973–1975 		Succeeded by
Heraldic offices
Preceded by King of Arms of the Order of the Bath
1985–1999 		Succeeded by
Air Force Ensign of the United KingdomAirman icon

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