Great airmen/airwomen
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Great airmen/airwomen
Afternoon all, I'm after some advice. I'm off to staff college soon and need to write an essay on a notable airman or airwoman who has demonstrated exceptional leadership. All the usual suspects have been done to death on previous courses so any suggestions for someone a bit obscure or out of the ordinary would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers all.
Bluntend.
Cheers all.
Bluntend.
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I hope you don't mind me suggesting:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Louis_Aaron
or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Olds
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Louis_Aaron
or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Olds
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Noteable Airwoman
Bluntend,
One of the most notable Airwomen to display exceptional leadership, by example and result, was WO Eilean Beasley, recently retired from the RAF as the most senior WO in HM forces. I got to know this lady in the 80's and she left the most lasting of impressions. Highly recommend you consider this outstanding person for your essay.
camlobe
One of the most notable Airwomen to display exceptional leadership, by example and result, was WO Eilean Beasley, recently retired from the RAF as the most senior WO in HM forces. I got to know this lady in the 80's and she left the most lasting of impressions. Highly recommend you consider this outstanding person for your essay.
camlobe
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Hmmmm... bit of a reverse here, and I fear I may get bashed, but...
Just finished reading a book about Jean Batten, and, well.... am I the only one who thinks she's not actually worth of all the accolade she got?
Just finished reading a book about Jean Batten, and, well.... am I the only one who thinks she's not actually worth of all the accolade she got?
Wasn't Eilean Beasley originally a PTI, until someone took exception to a refereeing decision she made in a game of rugby and decked her, so she became GD Admin.
I can remember when she took over the SWO'ship of Lossie in the mid 80's when the outgoing SWO told her how much bedding she had, and to sign here, so she insisted on counting it and discovered over £5000 worth of bedding was missing.
As to her actually doing her SWO job, she really did kick *rse, and didn't give a monkey's what excuse DoE/PSA had, the work was done, and double quick. Scared the troops rigid, but was totally fair. One of the best SWOs the RAF ever had.
She also used to drive around in a BL Mini, and for those of you that don't know her, this was like putting a quart into a pint pot.
I can remember when she took over the SWO'ship of Lossie in the mid 80's when the outgoing SWO told her how much bedding she had, and to sign here, so she insisted on counting it and discovered over £5000 worth of bedding was missing.
As to her actually doing her SWO job, she really did kick *rse, and didn't give a monkey's what excuse DoE/PSA had, the work was done, and double quick. Scared the troops rigid, but was totally fair. One of the best SWOs the RAF ever had.
She also used to drive around in a BL Mini, and for those of you that don't know her, this was like putting a quart into a pint pot.
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She sounds like a really interesting person and to be honest I'd much rather write an essay on her specific leadership style than that of say, Bomber Harris or Trenchard. Sadly though unless somebody knows of a biography on her I'm going to have to go for somebody a bit more noteable.
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Eilean Beasley
ZH875,
Eilean was indeed a PTI prior to her transfering to GD. I hadn't heard about the rugby match. Ouch.
Before she was SWO at Lossie (which is where I met her), she was SWO at Valley. Certainly woke up the sleepy Welsh base. At Lossie, in the famous Motor Club, she even donned overalls and learned from others how to maintain her own car.
And I totally agree about her capabilities as a SWO. As well as dishing out the grief to anyone who deserved it, Staish and Sqn bosses included, she helped out a lot of the youngsters who were losing their way.
Feered by many, but respected by all. Quite an accomplishment.
camlobe
Eilean was indeed a PTI prior to her transfering to GD. I hadn't heard about the rugby match. Ouch.
Before she was SWO at Lossie (which is where I met her), she was SWO at Valley. Certainly woke up the sleepy Welsh base. At Lossie, in the famous Motor Club, she even donned overalls and learned from others how to maintain her own car.
And I totally agree about her capabilities as a SWO. As well as dishing out the grief to anyone who deserved it, Staish and Sqn bosses included, she helped out a lot of the youngsters who were losing their way.
Feered by many, but respected by all. Quite an accomplishment.
camlobe
You might also like to try Sqn Ldr Vera Atkins (Sqn Officer in the WAAF, I think) who was part of F Section SOE. She was responsible for dispatching female agents to France, and, after the war, made it her personal goal to discover the fate of all those she sent out who didn't return, and bring those responsible for their murders to trial. Fascinating book about her called 'A Life In Secrets'. Great leadership, showing dedication to her 'girls' even after they had died.
More here:
http://www.64-baker-street.org/also/...her_story.html
More here:
http://www.64-baker-street.org/also/...her_story.html
Last edited by snapper41; 8th Jan 2008 at 12:17.
Something a bit different ?
Have you thought about Constance Babbington-Smith MBE?
She was highly regarded as a visionary in the field of tac recce during WW2, not only forging links between the UK and US intelligence agencies but was more famously responsible for first spotting the pilotless ac that were the forerunners of the V1 & V2 at Peenemunde.
Could be a fascinating delve back in time to an interesting period that given the priority place on ISTAR today could, if you thought it out properly, be linked back into current air ops to give it a smattering of 21st century relevance.
Just a thought - Google her name, plenty comes up and there will be stacks of stuff in the various museums and MOD archives about her, including an MBE citation no doubt floating around.
She was highly regarded as a visionary in the field of tac recce during WW2, not only forging links between the UK and US intelligence agencies but was more famously responsible for first spotting the pilotless ac that were the forerunners of the V1 & V2 at Peenemunde.
Could be a fascinating delve back in time to an interesting period that given the priority place on ISTAR today could, if you thought it out properly, be linked back into current air ops to give it a smattering of 21st century relevance.
Just a thought - Google her name, plenty comes up and there will be stacks of stuff in the various museums and MOD archives about her, including an MBE citation no doubt floating around.
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Probably been done to death by others and in former times, but you could consider Leonard Cheshire. Not just for his military career but for his humanitarian work after he had left the RAF.
Hmmmm - how did Constance B-S demonstrate leadership, exactly?
But then again, if you wanted to take the how did she demonstrate leadership exactly line, I could ask exactly the same thing about many of the senior officers we see getting operational honours and awards etc. But bear in mind, C B-S was a Flight Officer at the time - I'm guessing the WAAF equivalent of a current day JO. How many current JOs do you see floating around demonstrating leadership of change?
I think it could be quite a good topic - if approached correctly.
C B-S
I'm not denying she deserved an award for the valuable work she did, but I doubt she got it for leadership. Imagery analysis was, and largely still is, a solo effort (stereoscopes only had one set of eyepieces!).
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Although she batted for the other team, how about http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanna_Reitsch (why do I dislike using Wiki?) as an example of a determined, skilled and very brave military test pilot?
I would imagine that you are trying to find an airman who is not one of the usual suspects. Well it's been a big Air Force with lots of stars. A rich seam to mine from without even looking inside more junior formations.
I would imagine that you are trying to find an airman who is not one of the usual suspects. Well it's been a big Air Force with lots of stars. A rich seam to mine from without even looking inside more junior formations.