Richard Saul
| Surname | Saul |
| Given Name | Richard |
| Born | 16 Apr 1891 |
| Died | 30 Nov 1965 |
| Country | Ireland, United Kingdom |
| Category | Military-Air |
| Gender | Male |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
ww2dbaseRichard Ernest Saul was born in Dublin, Ireland, United Kingdom. When WW1 broke out, he was a second lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps. In 1916, he became a flying officer with the No. 16 Squadron of the Army's Royal Flying Corps; this squadron was charged with aerial observation. By the end of WW1, he was the commanding officer of No. 4 Squadron RFC. For his WW1 service, he received a Distinguished Flying Cross medal. After the war, he became the commander of No. 7 Squadron RAF. He was a noted athlete, playing rugby, hockey, and tennis; in 1928 and 1932, he was the tennis champion in the RAF. In Sep 1933, he was named the commanding officer of No. 203 Squadron RAF based in Basra, Iraq. In 1935, he personally led a flight of flying boats from Plymouth, England, United Kingdom to Basra. In 1938, he was named the Senior Air Staff Officer of the No. 2 Group RAF. In 1939, the year the European War of WW2 began, he was the commanding officer of No. 13 Group RAF in northern England and Scotland. Although the Battle of Britain would rage for the most part south of his defense area, his responsibility of maintaining a ready strategic reserve force was important nevertheless. On 17 Dec 1940, after the Battle of Britain was over but the German bombing of Britain ("The Blitz") continued, he was transferred to the No. 12 Group RAF as its commanding officer. On 4 Mar 1943, he was named the commander of Air Headquarters Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean, and played a role in the planning of the invasion of Sicily, Italy. Saul retired from the RAF on 29 Jun 1944. After the war, he served as the Chairman of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration's mission in the Balkan Peninsula, followed by some time as the Vice Chairman of the International Transport Commission in Rome, Italy. Between 1951 and 1959, he became the manager of a university book store. He retired from working in 1959 and passed away in 1965.
ww2dbaseSources:
Stephen Bungay, The Most Dangerous Enemy
Wikipedia
Last Major Revision: Nov 2010
Photographs
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Richard Saul Timeline
| 16 Apr 1891 | Richard Saul was born in Dublin, Ireland, then a member nation of the United Kingdom. |
| 1 Jan 1919 | Richard Saul was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. |
| 15 Jul 1919 | Richard Saul was honored by Belgium with the Croix de Guerre with Palms medal and was made a Chevalier of the Order of the Crown. |
| 11 Jul 1940 | Richard Saul was Mentioned in Despatches. |
| 17 Dec 1940 | Air Vice Marshal Richard Saul became the commanding officer of No. 12 Group RAF. |
| 17 Mar 1941 | Richard Saul was made Companion of the Order of the Bath. |
| 4 Mar 1943 | Richard Saul became the head of the British Air Headquarters Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean. |
| 1 Feb 1944 | The British Air Headquarters Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean was renamed the Air Headquarters Eastern Mediterranean; Richard Saul remained its commanding officer despite the name change. |
| 29 Jun 1944 | Richard Saul retired from the British Royal Air Force. |
| 28 Nov 1965 | Richard Saul was injured after being struck by an automobile. |
| 30 Nov 1965 | Richard Saul passed away from injuries sustained after being struck by an automobile. |
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29 Jun 2021 02:22:18 AM
When WW I began, Richard Saul was a bank official with the Royal Bank of Ireland. His name is on the roll of honour of the bank:(irishwarmemorials.ie/Memorials-Detail?memoId=989