Air Vice-Marshal Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes ...

Arthur Lorne James

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(September 1903 – 1964) was a Canadian air force officer who was instrumental in the evolution of the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...

during

World War II 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 opposing ...

and the early years of the Cold War, leading to its close cooperation with the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...

in the defence of North America. Born in

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple ...

in September 1903, James was educated there and attended

McGill University McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous ...

, where he graduated with a B.Sc. in civil engineering. He enlisted in the RCAF during its formative year in 1924. He attained the rank of sergeant in the technical branch before being commissioned as a pilot officer in 1926 upon earning his pilot wings. Throughout the rest of the 1920s he was active in many of the RCAF's early missions including forest fire patrols, aerial photography, and test flying. James was sent to

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

in 1929 for post-graduate studies in Aeronautical Engineering and in 1937 he returned to attend

RAF Staff College, Andover The RAF Staff College at RAF Andover was the first Royal Air Force staff college to be established. Its role was the training of officers in the administrative, staff and policy aspects of air force matters. History Foundation Following the f ...

. During the early years of

, James commanded several British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) schools at various RCAF stations across Canada. In 1943 he was assigned to special duties at Canadian Joint Staff,

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

. On January 1, 1945, he was made a

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(CBE) by King George VI. He returned from Washington to Ottawa for a posting at RCAF Headquarters where he was appointed Director of Organization, then Director of Repair, and Air Member for Research and Development. He was promoted to

in October 1945. In 1945 Air Vice-Marshal James was one of the first senior military officers in Canada to call for the creation of dedicated facility to house the collection of the

Canadian War Museum The Canadian War Museum (french: link=no, Musée canadien de la guerre; CWM) is a national museum on the country's military history in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The museum serves as both an educational facility on Canadian military history, in ad ...

. In January 1947 he was appointed Air Member for Technical Services and in November 1949 he became Air Member for Air Plans and was appointed as Air Member to the Permanent Joint Board on Defence; in these capacities he was instrumental in the development of the

CF-100 Canuck The Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck (affectionately known as the "Clunk") is a Canadian twinjet interceptor/ fighter designed and produced by aircraft manufacturer Avro Canada. It has the distinction of being the only Canadian-designed fighter to e ...

. On June 5, 1948, he was made Commander, Legion of Merit (CLM) by the Government of the United States of America. Air Vice-Marshal James gave the departing word to personnel of No. 426 Squadron RCAF on July 25, 1950, upon their participation in ''Operation Hawk'', the RCAF codeword for the

Korean Airlift The Korean Airlift was a military operation during the Korean War by the United States Air Force and other air forces participating in the United Nations action. Begun in 1950 under the command of Major General William H. Tunner, it provided air ...

. On August 1, 1951, he was promoted to Air Officer Commanding, Air Defence Command, RCAF. He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal on October 23, 1953, while still AOC, ADC. Air Vice-Marshal James retired in 1957 and became president and general manager of Bristol Aero Engines Limited. The RCAF school for dependent children at RCAF Station St. Margarets was named "James Park School" in his honour. He died in 1964 and in 1966 the post office at RCAF Station St. Margarets was renamed to "Post Office James Park" in his honour as well. James's citation for the CBE reads as follows:

This officer has rendered untiring and devoted service to the Royal Canadian Air Force over a long period of years. Since the outbreak of war, he has successively filled high executive positions in both Canada and the United States. This officer's display of energy, leadership and integrity, combined with a pleasing personality, has been an inspiration to all those with whom he comes in contact. His diligence, devotion to duty, keenness and conscientiousness in his every effort, and his ability and industry to complete the work in hand, have combined to make him an outstanding officer.

His citation for the Legion of Merit reads as follows:

Air Vice Marshal A.L. James, Royal Canadian Air Force, performed exceptionally meritorious service from November 1942 to December 1943. He served with marked distinction as Senior Air Staff Officer at Canadian Joint Staff Headquarters, Washington. His vital interest in all matters relating to cooperation between the United States Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Air Force gained for him the highest regard of those with whom he so selflessly served. Air Vice Marshal James not only served on many highly important committees, but his pleasing but forceful personality contributed greatly to the fostering of goodwill and the interchange of intelligence which was of mutual value to both countries in the successful prosecution of the war.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Arthur Lorne 1903 births 1964 deaths Royal Canadian Air Force personnel Royal Canadian Air Force air marshals of World War II Canadian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Commanders of the Legion of Merit McGill University Faculty of Engineering alumni Military personnel from Montreal