DIRECTORS, SENIOR AIR OFFICERS, CHIEFS OF THE AIR STAFF, AND CHIEFS OF DEFENCE STAFF (1920-74)
DIRECTORS, CAF
A/C A.K. Tylee, OBE 17 May 20 – 21 March 21
W/C R.F. Redpath, 22 March 21 – 12 July 21
W/C J.S. Scott, MC, AFC 13 July 21 – 30 June 22
W/C J.L. Gordon, DFC 1 July 22 – 31 March 24
DIRECTORS, RCAF
W/C W.G. Barker, VC, DSO, MC 1 April 24 – 18 May 24
W/C (G/C) J.S. Scott, MC, AFC 19 May 24 – 14 February 28
W/C L.S. Breadner, DSC 15 February 28 – 29 April 32
S/L A.A.L. Cuffe 30 April 32 – 31 October 32
SENIOR AIR OFFICERS, RCAF
G/C J.L. Gordon, DFC 1 November 32 – 31 May 33
W/C G.O. Johnson, MC 1 June 33 – 31 December 33
G/C (A/V/M) G.M. Croil, AFC 1 January 34 – 14 December 38
CHIEFS OF THE AIR STAFF, RCAF
A/V/M G.M. Croil, AFC 15 December 38 – 28 May 40
A/V/M (AIM) L.S. Breadner, CB, DSC 29 May 40 – 31 December 43
A/M R. Leckie, CB, DSO, DSC, DFC 1 January 44 – 31 August 47
A/M W.A. Curtis, CB, CBE, DSC, ED 1 September 47 – 30 January 53
A/M C.R. Slemon, CB, CBE, CD 31 January 53 – 30 August 57
A/M H.L. Campbell, CBE, CD 1 September 57 – 13 September 62
A/M C.R. Dunlap, CBE, CD 14 September 62 – 31 July 64
CHIEFS OF THE AIR STAFF, CANADA’S AIR FORCE
LGen W.K. Carr, CMM, DFC, OSTJ, CD, CMLJ, LOM September 1975 – August 1978
LGen G.A. MacKenzie, CMM, OStJ, CD, KLJ August 1978 – March 1980
LGen Lewis, CMM, CD April 1980 – August 1983
LGen P.D. Manson, OC, CMM, C.D. August 1983 – June 1985
LGen D.M. McNaughton, CMM, CD 13 June 1985 – 1 August 1986
LGen L.A. Ashley, CMM, CD 1 August 1986 – 3 August 1989
LGen F.R. Sutherland, CMM, CD August 1989 – August 1991
LGen D. Huddleston, CMM, MSC, CD 2 August 1991 – 30 July 1993
LGen G.S. Clements, CMM, CD 1 August 1993 – 30 July 1995
LGen A.M. DeQuetteville, CMM, CD 1 August 1995 – 31 March 1998
LGen D.N. Kinsman, CMM, CD 1 April 1998 – 21 July 2000
LGen L.C. Campbell, CMM, CD 21 July 2000 – 18 July 2003
LGen K.R. Pennie, CMM, CD 18 July 2003 – 16 May 2005
LGen J.S. Lucas, CMM, CD 16 May 2005 – 26 July 2007
LGen W.A. Watt, CMM, CD 26 July 2007 – 2009
LGen A. Deschamps, CMM, CD 2009 – 2012
LGen Y. Blondin, CMM, CD 2012 – 2015
LGen M. Hood, CMM, CD 2015 –
- Air Marshal Robert Leckie
AIR MARSHAL LECKIE, OTTAWA One of Canada’s aviation pioneers, and the last surviving wartime RCAF chief of the air staff, died 31 Mar. He was Air Marshal Robert Leckie, CB, DSO, DSC, CD (ret’d) of Ottawa. He was 84 years of age. Air Marshal Leckie was born April 16, 1890, in Glasgow, Scotland and came to Canada at the age of 16. His decision to enter the Royal Naval Air Service as a pilot in 1915 involved the personal expenditure of $600, the cost of preliminary flying training. Eventually, he became known as one of the “Zeppelin killers from Canada.” During his wartime service he shot down two of the huge German airships. His first “zep” was Germany’s first dirigible loss to the lowceiling flying boats. On board the second was the commander-in-chief of the German Zeppelin Service, Peter Strasser. Air Marshal Leckie also destroyed a submarine, and flew more than 100 reconnaissance flights into the Heligoland Bight. After the armistice he was assigned to
command No. 1 Canadian Wing of the newly-formed Royal Air Force. Following the war, Air Marshal Leckie returned to Canada and assumed a civilian post as director of flying operations for the Air Board. In this capacity he played a vital role in the development of Canadian civil aviation and organized and helped pilot the first trans-Canada flight. In 1919 he accepted a permanent commission in the RAF as a wing commander, and was seconded to the Canadian Air Board. He returned to Britain in 1922 and served in various capacities, including flying from HM Ships Hermes and Courageous, two of Britain’s early aircraft carriers. In 1935 he became director of training of the RAF and was responsible for the training of many of the men who were to fight in the Battle of Britain. In 1938 he became air-officer-commanding the Mediterranean area, with headquarters at Malta, in the rank of air commodore. He was involved with the creation of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, in that he made representations to the RAF to establish flying training schools in Canada. He was appointed a member of the air council for training in Nov., 1940, and the following year was promoted to air vice-marshal. He transferred to the RCAF in 1942, and two years later was promoted to air ‘marshal and appointed RCAF chief of the air staff, a position he held until retirement Sept. 1, 1947. Subsequently he was appointed special consultant to the Air Cadet League. Air Marshal Leckie is survived by his widow, Bernice, and two sons, Robin and John.
