Air Marshal Sir Philip Babington, (25 February 1894 – 25 February 1965) was a

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

officer who served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of

Flying Training Command Flying Training Command was an Command (military formation), organization of the Royal Air Force; it controlled flight training units. The command's headquarters were at Shinfield Park, Reading, Berkshire, Reading in Berkshire. History Flying ...

from 1942 to 1945 during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. He was the younger brother of John Tremayne Babington.

Education

His education was at

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, C ...

RAF career

Babington was commissioned into the Hampshire Regiment in 1914 at the start of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and then transferred to the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

. He was appointed Officer Commanding No. 46 Squadron on the

Western Front Western Front or West Front may refer to: Military frontiers *Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (Russian Empire), a majo ...

in July 1916 until December 1917, he was also Station Commander RFC Suttons Farm in August 1917 when 46 Squadron were rotated from frontline operations to defend London from aerial attack. Babington went on to become Officer Commanding No. 141 Squadron at

Biggin Hill Biggin Hill is a settlement on the south-eastern outskirts of Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Kent, prior to 1965 it was also in the administrative county of Kent. I ...

in January 1918 before taking command of the 50th Wing later that year. After the War he served as Officer Commanding No. 37 Squadron (later renumbered No. 39 Squadron), Officer Commanding No. 56 Squadron and Officer Commanding No. 19 Squadron. He was made Station Commander at RAF Sealand in 1925, Senior Personnel Staff Officer at Headquarters Inland Area in 1928 and Assistant Commandant at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in 1931 before becoming Director of Postings at the

Air Ministry The Air Ministry was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964. It was under the political authority of the Secretary of State ...

in 1936. He served in the

as Air Member for Personnel from 1940 and as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of

from 1942 before retiring in 1944. In retirement he joined a committee to consider the future of the

court-martial A court-martial or court martial (plural ''courts-martial'' or ''courts martial'', as "martial" is a postpositive adjective) is a military court or a trial conducted in such a court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of memb ...

system.Court-martial Inquiry
Hansard, 19 November 1946

References

External references

* , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Babington, Philip 1894 births 1965 deaths British Army personnel of World War I Commanders with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) Recipients of the Military Cross Royal Air Force air marshals of World War II Royal Flying Corps officers Royal Hampshire Regiment officers

Philip Philip, also Phillip, is a male given name, derived from the Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominent Philips who popularize ...

Military personnel from London