Peter Bairsto

Air Marshal Sir Peter Edward Bairsto, KBE, CB, AFC, DL (3 August 1926 – 24 October 2017) was a Royal Air Force officer who served as Deputy Commander of Strike Command from 1981 until his retirement in 1984.

Sir Peter Bairsto
Birth namePeter Edward Bairsto
Born(1926-08-03)3 August 1926
Died24 October 2017(2017-10-24) (aged 91)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy (1944–46)
Royal Air Force (1946–84)
Years of service1944–84
RankAir Marshal
Service number202703
Commands heldNorthern Maritime Air Region (1980–81)
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Air Force Cross
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air (2)

Early life

Bairsto was born on 3 August 1926. He was educated at Rhyl Grammar School.[1]

Military career

Bairsto joined the Royal Navy in 1944 and transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1946[1] as an aircraftman. He was commissioned into the RAF Regiment with the rank of pilot officer (on probation) on 10 May 1946.[2] On 10 November 1946, his commission was confirmed and he was promoted to flying officer (war substantive).[3]

On 17 July 1947, with the end of Second World War active service, he reverted to pilot officer with seniority from 10 May 1946.[4] On 1 November 1947, he was promoted to flying officer.[5] He transferred to the General Duties Branch, the branch containing navigators and pilots, on 12 December 1951 as a flying officer with seniority from that date.[6] He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 August 1953,[7] was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in the 1955 New Year Honours[8] and an Air Force Cross in the 1957 New Year Honours.[9] In the half-yearly promotions of 1958, on 1 July, he was promoted to squadron leader.[10] In the 1960 Birthday Honours, Bairsto was awarded a further Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.[11]

He was promoted to group captain on 1 January 1969,[12] and to air commodore on 1 July 1973 in the half-yearly promotions.[13] He became Director of Operational Requirements in 1973,[14] Senior Air Staff Officer at Support Command in 1977[15] (retitled Air Officer, Training Group at RAF Support Command in 1978)[16] and Commander of the Northern Maritime Air Region in 1980.[17] He went on to be Deputy Commander of Strike Command in 1981,[18] and retired in 1984.[19]

Later life

In retirement, Bairsto became an advisor to Ferranti Group.[1] He also served as Deputy Lieutenant of Fife.[20] He died on 24 October 2017.[21]

Personal life

In 1947, he married Kathleen Clarbour; they had two sons and one daughter.[1] Following the death of his first wife in 2008,[22] he married Pamela Braid (née Gibson) on 15 May 2010 at Hope Park Parish Church, St Andrews.[23]

By July 1973, he was a Member of the British Institute of Management (MBIM).[13] He was Honorary Colonel of the 79 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) until 3 August 1992.[24]

References
  1. Debrett's People of Today 1994
  2. "No. 37605". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 June 1946. p. 2905.
  3. "No. 37804". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 November 1946. p. 5907.
  4. "No. 38142". The London Gazette. 5 December 1947. p. 5817.
  5. "No. 38194". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 January 1948. p. 792.
  6. "No. 39499". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 March 1952. p. 1678.
  7. "No. 39935". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 August 1953. p. 4363.
  8. "No. 40366". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1954. p. 36.
  9. "No. 40960". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1956. p. 36.
  10. "No. 41433". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 1958. p. 4142.
  11. "No. 42051". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 June 1960. p. 4007.
  12. "No. 44760". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 January 1969. p. 203.
  13. "No. 46029". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 July 1973. p. 8288.
  14. Senior Royal Air Force Appointments
  15. Whitaker's Almanack 1978
  16. Whitaker's Almanack 1979
  17. Whitaker's Almanack 1981
  18. Whitaker's Almanack 1982
  19. Whitaker's Almanack 1985
  20. Burke's Peerage
  21. "Bairsto". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  22. Walker, Tim; Richard Eden (1 December 2009). "Strike for love at 83". Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  23. "Air Marshal Sir Peter Bairsto and Mrs L.D.P. Braid". Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  24. "No. 53008". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 August 1992. p. 13140.
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Thomas Kennedy		 Deputy Commander-in-Chief Strike Command
1981–1984		 Succeeded by
Sir Joseph Gilbert
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