AIR CHIEF PASSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 99, 29 April 1933, Page 9

AIR CHIEF PASSES.

SIR GEOFFREY SALMOND DEAD

RUGBY, April 28,

The death has occurred of Sir Geoffrey Salmond, aged 54. He had been gravely ill for the' last few weeks. Sir Geoffrey succeeded his younger brother, Sir John, as chief of the Air Staff on April 1, but three days later it was announced that owing to his serious illness Sir John would temporarily resume those duties.

Sir Geoffrey's career was one of great distinction. Originally he entered the Royal Artillery and served in South Africa (where he was at the siege of Ladysmith) and in China. He took his pilot's certificate in January, 1913, a few months Ufter his younger brother, and transferred to the Flying Corps. During the Great War he served on the western front, but later commanded the British Air Forces in the Middle East till 1921. From 1931 until he succeeded his brother he was Commander-in-Chief of the British Air Defences.

Sir Geoffrey Salmond came of a family of soldiers. His father was Major Sir W. Salmond and his brother Sir John Salmond, Marshal of the Royal Air Force. In the South African War he gained seven clasps to his medal. He saw service during the Boxer rebellion in China. After one year's service on the Imperial General Staff in the Great War he joined the Royal Air Force. By 1919 he was knighted and raised to the position of Air Vice-Marshal. It was his systematic and persistent raids which served more than anything else to break up the Turkish armies. He accomplished with Captain Ross Smith the first flight to India (December, 1918). He was afterwards given command of the Royal Air Force in India, and made a member of the Air Council. He was promoted Air Marshal in 1929, and succeeded his brother this year.