George Pirie (RAF officer)

Educated at Fettes College in Edinburgh and the University of St Andrews, Pirie volunteered for service with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) just after the outbreak of the First World War.[1] He was gazetted as a second lieutenant on 19 September 1914.[2] In March 1916 Pirie began training to be an observer with No. 2 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps.[1] He became Officer Commanding No. 6 Squadron on the Western Front in 1918.[1] Pirie was still serving with 6 Squadron when it moved to the Middle East and served with the squadron when he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for services in Mesopotamia. The citation for his DFC, which was listed in the London Gazette dated 28 October 1921, stated the award was:

"For great gallantry and good work, especially during operations in the relief of Diwaniyah and during our retirement to Hillah. This officer showed remarkable ability in quick initiative when leading his flight during 'operations".[3]

After the war he served as Officer Commanding No. 29 Squadron before becoming Station Commander at RAF Tangmere in 1933.[1] He was made deputy director of Operations at the Air Ministry in 1936 and Air Attaché in Washington D. C. in 1937.[1] He served in the Second World War as Air Officer Commanding the RAF in Northern Ireland and as Air Officer Administration at Headquarters Middle East Command before becoming Director of War Organisation and then Director-General of Organisation at the Air Ministry.[1] He completed his war service as Deputy Air Commander in Chief at Air Command South East Asia in 1945.[1]

After the War he was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Air Command South East Asia and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Air Command Far East before becoming Inspector-General of the RAF in 1948.[1] He was made Air Member for Supply and Organisation in September 1948 and Head of the RAF Staff in Washington D. C. in 1950 before retiring in 1951.[1]

• National Portrait Gallery – Sir George Clark Pirie