Robert Willock

Air Vice-Marshal Robert Peel Willock, CB (17 December 1893 – 22 March 1973) was a senior Royal Air Force officer who commanded the British Air Forces in Iraq during the Second World War.

Robert Willock
Born	17 December 1893
Died	22 March 1973 (aged 79)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army (1914–18) Royal Air Force (1918–46)
Years of service	1914–46
Rank	Air Vice-Marshal
Commands held	AHQ Iraq and Persia (1943–44) No. 21 (Training) Group (1940–43) RAF Kenley (1928–30) No. 4 Armoured Car Company (1922–24) No. 57 Training Squadron (1917–19)
Battles/wars	First World War Second World War
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Resituta (Poland) Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)

RAF career

Willcock was commissioned into the 9th (Reserve) Battalion of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in 1914 and went on to serve as a Squadron Commander with the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War.[1] Following his promotion to wing commander in 1928,[2] he was appointed Station Commander at RAF Kenley in 1928 before going on to be Air Attaché in Shanghai in 1933 and Director of Staff Duties at the Air Ministry in 1938.[1] He served in the Second World War as Air Officer Commanding No. 21 (Training) Group.[1] He became Air Officer Commanding AHQ Iraq and Persia in 1943 and then became Head of the RAF delegation in Washington D. C. in 1944 before retiring in 1945.[1]

In retirement he was the Civil Aviation Adviser to the UK High Commissioner to Australia.[1]

References

1. Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Vice-Marshal R P Willock
2. Appointments Flight International, 5 January 1928