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David Harcourt-Smith

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Air Chief Marshal

Sir David Harcourt-Smith
Born(1931-10-14)14 October 1931
Singapore
Died4 August 2024(2024-08-04) (aged 92)
Amesbury
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1952–1989
RankAir Chief Marshal
CommandsSupport Command (1984–86)
Royal Air Force College Cranwell (1978–80)
RAF Bruggen (1972–74)
No. 6 Squadron (1969–70)
No. 54 Squadron (1963–65)
Battles / warsAden Emergency
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Flying Cross
RelationsAir Vice Marshal Gilbert Harcourt-Smith (father)

Air Chief Marshal Sir David Harcourt-Smith, GBE, KCB, DFC (14 October 1931 – 4 August 2024) was a Royal Air Force officer who served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Support Command from 1984 to 1986. He is the author of Wings Over Suez, an account of air operations during the Sinai and Suez wars.

RAF career

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Educated at Felsted School and the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, Harcourt-Smith was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1952.[1] He flew the DH Venom fighter-bomber[2] in the Suez Crisis and Aden Emergency, where he won the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry and devotion to duty in 1957.[3]

Harcourt-Smith was appointed Officer Commanding No. 54 Squadron in 1963 and Officer Commanding No. 6 Squadron in 1969 before moving on to be Station Commander at RAF Bruggen in 1972 and Commandant of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in 1978.[1] He went on to be Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operational Requirements) in 1980, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Support Command in 1984 and Controller of Aircraft in 1986.[1] As Controller of Aircraft he oversaw the introduction of the Tucano training aircraft.[4] He retired in 1989.[1]

Personal life and death

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In 1957 Harcourt-Smith married Dorothy Mary Entwistle; they had two sons and one daughter.[1] He died on 4 August 2024, at the age of 92.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Debrett's People of Today 1994
  2. ^ Oliver, D. (1987) British Combat Aircraft in action since 1945 pp. 83–4 ISBN 071101678X
  3. ^ "No. 41243". The London Gazette. 29 November 1957. p. 7047.
  4. ^ MoD admits Tucano delay Flight International, 1 February 1985
  5. ^ "Air Chief Marshal Sir David Harcourt-Smith, GBE, KCB, DFC". The Telegraph. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief Support Command
1984–1986
Succeeded by