David Craig, Baron Craig of Radley
Encyclopedia
Marshal of the Royal Air Force
David Brownrigg Craig, Baron Craig of Radley, GCB
, OBE
(born 17 September 1929), is a retired Royal Air Force
officer and member of the House of Lords
. He served as the Chief of the Defence Staff
(CDS) of the United Kingdom
and thus the professional head of the British Armed Forces.
, on 17 September 1929, the son of Major Francis Craig and his wife Olive. As a boy growing up in what later became the Republic of Ireland
, he was largely unaffected by the events of World War II
. In 1943 he came to Britain
and started at Radley College
where, in addition to his studies, he rowed and later became Head of School
. He gained a place at Lincoln College, Oxford
, and joined Oxford University Air Squadron. Craig graduated with a BA
in Pure Mathematics in 1951.
on 19 September 1951 (seniority from 19 December 1949) After receiving his commission in 1951, Craig went on to fly Meteors
and Hunters
. He was promoted to Flying Officer
on 19 March 1952, (seniority from 19 June 1950) to Flight Lieutenant
on 19 December of that year and to Squadron Leader
on 1 January 1959.
Craig was promoted to Wing Commander
on 1 January 1964; in 1965, he was appointed Military Assistant to the then Chief of the Defence Staff
, Field Marshal Sir Richard Hull
. Also that year, he was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in the Birthday Honours. During this time, Craig witnessed many of the policy changes that came about whilst Denis Healey
was Secretary of State for Defence
.
Notably, he commanded No. 35 Squadron.
Craig was appointed an OBE
in June 1967 and was promoted to Group Captain
on 1 January 1968 just prior to his posting as Station Commander at RAF Cranwell
later that year.
He received successive promotions to Air Commodore
(1 January 1972), and to Air Vice-Marshal
by 1975.
Craig became Air Officer Commanding
No 1 Group
and appointed a CB in 1978. He went on to be Vice-Chief of the Air Staff
and knighted with the KCB
in 1980, by which time he was an Acting Air Marshal
(permanent Air Vice-Marshal). He was promoted to Air Marshal
on 1 January 1981, to Acting Air Chief Marshal on 21 September 1982 and appointed to the post of Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command
before being promoted to permanent Air Chief Marshal
on 1 July 1983. Craig was appointed a GCB in June 1984.
Lord Craig was Chief of the Air Staff from 1985 to 1988, and subsequently Chief of Defence Staff
from 9 December 1988 to 1 April 1991. On 14 November 1988, Craig was promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Royal Air Force
.
as Baron Craig of Radley, of Helhoughton
in the County of Norfolk
. He was the Convenor of the Crossbench Peers in the House of Lords
from December 1999 until July 2004.
Also in retirement from active service, Lord Craig joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve
in the rank of Flying Officer
in order to fly De Havilland Chipmunk T Mk 10 aircraft for the Air Training Corps
.
Christopher Craig (born 1957) and The Hon. Susan Craig (born 1960).
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Marshal of the Royal Air Force is the highest rank in the Royal Air Force. In peacetime it was granted to RAF officers in the appointment of Chief of the Defence Staff, and to retired Chiefs of the Air Staff, who were promoted to it on their last day of service. Promotions to the rank have ceased...
David Brownrigg Craig, Baron Craig of Radley, GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 17 September 1929), is a retired Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
officer and member of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. He served as the Chief of the Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
The Chief of the Defence Staff is the professional head of the British Armed Forces, a senior official within the Ministry of Defence, and the most senior uniformed military adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister...
(CDS) of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and thus the professional head of the British Armed Forces.
Early life
David Craig was born in Dublin, IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, on 17 September 1929, the son of Major Francis Craig and his wife Olive. As a boy growing up in what later became the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, he was largely unaffected by the events of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1943 he came to Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and started at Radley College
Radley College
Radley College , founded in 1847, is a British independent school for boys on the edge of the English village of Radley, near to the market town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and has become a well-established boarding school...
where, in addition to his studies, he rowed and later became Head of School
Head boy
Head Boy and Head Girl are terms commonly used in the British education system, and in private schools throughout the Commonwealth.-United Kingdom:...
. He gained a place at Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
, and joined Oxford University Air Squadron. Craig graduated with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Pure Mathematics in 1951.
RAF career
Craig was commissioned as a Pilot OfficerPilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
on 19 September 1951 (seniority from 19 December 1949) After receiving his commission in 1951, Craig went on to fly Meteors
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
and Hunters
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
. He was promoted to Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
on 19 March 1952, (seniority from 19 June 1950) to Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
on 19 December of that year and to Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
on 1 January 1959.
Craig was promoted to Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
on 1 January 1964; in 1965, he was appointed Military Assistant to the then Chief of the Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
The Chief of the Defence Staff is the professional head of the British Armed Forces, a senior official within the Ministry of Defence, and the most senior uniformed military adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister...
, Field Marshal Sir Richard Hull
Richard Amyatt Hull
Field Marshal Sir Richard Amyatt Hull, KG, GCB, DSO, DL was the last Chief of the Imperial General Staff and the first Chief of the General Staff , and as such the professional head of the British Army...
. Also that year, he was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in the Birthday Honours. During this time, Craig witnessed many of the policy changes that came about whilst Denis Healey
Denis Healey
Denis Winston Healey, Baron Healey CH, MBE, PC is a British Labour politician, who served as Secretary of State for Defence from 1964 to 1970 and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1974 to 1979.-Early life:...
was Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for Defence
The Secretary of State for Defence, popularly known as the Defence Secretary, is the senior Government of the United Kingdom minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence, chairing the Defence Council. It is a Cabinet position...
.
Notably, he commanded No. 35 Squadron.
Craig was appointed an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in June 1967 and was promoted to Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
on 1 January 1968 just prior to his posting as Station Commander at RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. It is currently commanded by Group Captain Dave Waddington...
later that year.
He received successive promotions to Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
(1 January 1972), and to Air Vice-Marshal
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
by 1975.
Craig became Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group...
No 1 Group
No. 1 Group RAF
Number 1 Group of the Royal Air Force is one of the two operations groups in Air Command.The group is today referred to as the Air Combat Group, as it controls the RAF's combat fast-jet aircraft and has airfields in the UK plus RAF Unit Goose Bay in Canada, which is used extensively as an...
and appointed a CB in 1978. He went on to be Vice-Chief of the Air Staff
Vice-Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)
The British Vice-Chief of the Air Staff was the post occupied by the senior Royal Air Force officer who served as a senior assistant to the Chief of the Air Staff. The post was created during World War II on 22 April 1940 and its incumbement sat on the Air Council...
and knighted with the KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1980, by which time he was an Acting Air Marshal
Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
(permanent Air Vice-Marshal). He was promoted to Air Marshal
Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
on 1 January 1981, to Acting Air Chief Marshal on 21 September 1982 and appointed to the post of Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command
RAF Strike Command
The Royal Air Force's Strike Command was the military formation which controlled the majority of the United Kingdom's bomber and fighter aircraft from 1968 until 2007: it was merged with Personnel and Training Command to form the single Air Command. It latterly consisted of two formations - No. 1...
before being promoted to permanent Air Chief Marshal
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
on 1 July 1983. Craig was appointed a GCB in June 1984.
Lord Craig was Chief of the Air Staff from 1985 to 1988, and subsequently Chief of Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
The Chief of the Defence Staff is the professional head of the British Armed Forces, a senior official within the Ministry of Defence, and the most senior uniformed military adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister...
from 9 December 1988 to 1 April 1991. On 14 November 1988, Craig was promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Marshal of the Royal Air Force is the highest rank in the Royal Air Force. In peacetime it was granted to RAF officers in the appointment of Chief of the Defence Staff, and to retired Chiefs of the Air Staff, who were promoted to it on their last day of service. Promotions to the rank have ceased...
.
Later life
On 30 July 1991, following his retirement from the RAF, Craig was made a life peerLife peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Craig of Radley, of Helhoughton
Helhoughton
Helhoughton is a village and civil parish in Norfolk, England. It is west-south-west of the town of Fakenham, west-northwest of Norwich and north-northeast of London. The nearest railway station is at Sheringham for the Bittern Line which runs between Sheringham, Cromer and Norwich. The nearest...
in the County of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. He was the Convenor of the Crossbench Peers in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
from December 1999 until July 2004.
Also in retirement from active service, Lord Craig joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve consists of a number of groupings of individual military reservists for the management and operation of the Royal Air Force's Air Training Corps and CCF Air Cadet formations, Volunteer Gliding Squadrons , Air Experience Flights, and also to form the...
in the rank of Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
in order to fly De Havilland Chipmunk T Mk 10 aircraft for the Air Training Corps
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
.
Family
Craig married Elisabeth Derenburg in 1955. They have two children: The Hon.The Honourable
The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
Christopher Craig (born 1957) and The Hon. Susan Craig (born 1960).
Styles
- 1929-1951: David Brownrigg Craig
- 1951-19 March 1952: Pilot OfficerPilot OfficerPilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
David Brownrigg Craig - 19 March-19 December 1952: Flying OfficerFlying OfficerFlying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
David Brownrigg Craig - 19 December 1952-1959: Flight LieutenantFlight LieutenantFlight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
David Brownrigg Craig - 1959-1964: Squadron LeaderSquadron LeaderSquadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
David Brownrigg Craig - 1964-1967: Wing CommanderWing Commander (rank)Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
David Brownrigg Craig - 1967-1968: Wing Commander David Brownrigg Craig, OBE
- 1968-1972: Group CaptainGroup CaptainGroup captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
David Brownrigg Craig, OBE - 1972-c1975: Air CommodoreAir CommodoreAir commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
David Brownrigg Craig, OBE - c1975-1978: Air Vice-MarshalAir Vice-MarshalAir vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
David Brownrigg Craig, OBE - 1978-1979: Air Vice-Marshal David Brownrigg Craig, CB, OBE
- 1979-1980: Air Vice-Marshal (Actg. Air MarshalAir MarshalAir marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
) David Brownrigg Craig, CB, OBE - 1980-1981: Air Vice-Marshal (Actg. Air Marshal) SirSirSir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
David Brownrigg Craig, KCBOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, OBE - 1981-1982: Air Marshal Sir David Brownrigg Craig, KCB, OBE
- 1982-1983: Air Marshal (Actg. Air Chief MarshalAir Chief MarshalAir chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
) Sir David Brownrigg Craig, KCB, OBE - 1983-1984: Air Chief Marshal Sir David Brownrigg Craig, KCB, OBE
- 1984-1988: Air Chief Marshal Sir David Brownrigg Craig, GCB, OBE
- 1988-1991: Marshal of the Royal Air ForceMarshal of the Royal Air ForceMarshal of the Royal Air Force is the highest rank in the Royal Air Force. In peacetime it was granted to RAF officers in the appointment of Chief of the Defence Staff, and to retired Chiefs of the Air Staff, who were promoted to it on their last day of service. Promotions to the rank have ceased...
Sir David Brownrigg Craig, GCB, OBE - 1991–present: Marshal of the Royal Air Force The Rt. Hon. The Lord Craig of Radley, GCB, OBE
External links
Footnote
- Marshals of the Royal Air Force remain on the active list even when they have, for all practical purposes, retired.
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-