John Grandy

Marshal of the Royal Air Force

Sir John Grandy
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Grandy
Born(1913-02-08)8 February 1913
Northwood, London
Died2 January 2004(2004-01-02) (aged 90)
Slough, Berkshire
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1931–1971
RankMarshal of the Royal Air Force
CommandsChief of the Air Staff (1967–71)
Far East Command (1965–67)
Bomber Command (1963–65)
RAF Germany (1961–63)
Central Fighter Establishment (1954–56)
Northern Sector of Fighter Command (1950–52)
No. 341 Wing (1945)
No. 73 Operational Training Unit (1944–45)
No. 210 Group (1943)
RAF Duxford (1942–43)
No. 249 Squadron (1940)
No. 219 Squadron (1940)
Battles / warsSecond World War Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order
Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John
Mentioned in Despatches (2)
Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (Malaysia)
Other workGovernor of Gibraltar
Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle

Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Grandy, GCB, GCVO, KBE, DSO (8 February 1913 – 2 January 2004) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force. He was the only officer who fought and commanded a squadron during the Battle of Britain to reach the post of Chief of the Air Staff. In the latter role he implemented the final stages of the RAF's withdrawal from the Persian Gulf and the Far East, oversaw the ordering and subsequent cancellation of the F-111 strike aircraft and handed over Britain's nuclear deterrent role to the Royal Navy.