Richard Jordan (RAF officer)

Air Marshal Sir Richard Bowen Jordan KCB DFC ADC RAF (7 February 1902 – 24 April 1994) was a bomber pilot and squadron commander during the Second World War, a senior Royal Air Force officer during the Second World War and sixth Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps, in the post war period of the early 1950s.

Early Royal Air Force career
Educated at Marlborough College Sir Richard was one of the very first cadets at the new RAF College Cranwell in 1921, at the age of 19, where he learned to fly. He represented the college at both cricket and rugby having been appointed in the rank of Flight Cadet Sergeant. On graduation he was granted a permanent commission in the rank of Pilot Officer in 1922 and posted as a pilot to No. 2 Squadron RAF. Promoted to Flying Officer in June 1924 he moved to No. 28 Squadron RAF in February 1926.

On 12 December 1928, Jordan was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and the following month he transferred to India as a Headquarters Staff officer at No. 2 (Indian Wing) Station, RAF Risalpur. Returning to the UK two years later he was held as a supernumerary officer at the RAF Central Depot before embarking on an eight-year secondment as a test pilot at the Royal Aircraft Establishment’s military experimental division at Farnborough. During his time there, he was promoted to Squadron Leader in 1936.

In January 1938 he temporarily ceased flying duties and took up an appointment as a Staff Officer in the RAF’s Directorate of Peace Organisation. Returning to operational flying Jordan was promoted to Wing Commander and appointed as Officer Commanding No. 83 Squadron RAF in August 1939. Posted to RAF Manston briefly as Station Commander he then became Officer Commanding No. 214 Squadron RAF where he remained on combat duty until July 1944. On the night of 2 June 1941 Jordan took off from RAF Stradishall in Vickers Wellington No. W5450 for a bombing operation over Berlin. His squadron successfully attacked the target and turned for home. At 06:00, having crossed the English coast, Jordan’s aircraft stalled and crashed 7 miles south west of Bury St Edmunds. Although it crashed into a copse of trees, there was no fire and most of the crew were unhurt, returning to the Stradishall on the back of a farm cart. Jordan was awarded with the DFC on 22 August 1941.

Over a three-year period he held several transient ranks in quick succession, including Temporary Group Captain, Acting Air Commodore, Group Captain (War Substantive) and Temporary Air Commodore while serving as the Director of Overseas Transport Operations.

Just after the Second World War finished Jordan was promoted to the substantive rank of Air Commodore and served as AOC, RAF India & Pakistan from July 1947 until February 1948 when he was appointed as AOC, RAF Gibraltar.

Royal Observer Corps
On 1 February 1949 Jordan took over the appointment as Commandant Royal Observer Corps at RAF Bentley Priory from Air Commodore the Earl of Bandon. In April 1949 Jordan was additionally appointed Aide de Camp to King George VI. Jordan was Commandant ROC when, on 1 March 1950 the Air Officer Commanding in Chief, RAF Fighter Command assumed direct administrative control of the Corps. Under this change Headquarters Royal Observer Corps continued to operate in its existing form but assumed a status that was comparable with that of a Fighter Command group headquarters.

After lengthy negotiations with Buckingham Palace staff, Jordan formally invited His Majesty King George VI to assume the position of Air Commodore in Chief of the ROC. On 11 April 1950 in recognition of the Corps' record of service during the twenty-five years of its existence, His Majesty King George VI honoured the Corps by accepting the invitation.

Later Royal Air Force appointments
On 20 March 1951 Jordan handed over the Commandant ROC position to Air Commodore G H Vasse. Jordan was promoted to Air Vice Marshal and appointed as AOC No. 25 Group RAF. In 1953 he became Director General of RAF Organisation, an appointment he held until January 1956. That month he was promoted to Air Marshal and took up his final posting as AOC in C of RAF Maintenance Command. A Companion of the Order of the Bath since 1947 he was further honoured by being Knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours of May 1956. In June 1958 his personal De Havilland Devon crashed near Largs in Scotland while apparently en route to his headquarters at RAF Andover to collect passengers: he was not on board at the time.

Jordan retired from the RAF on 2 June 1958. He died on 24 April 1994 at the age of 92.