Jump to content

Raymond Armstrong

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Raymond Fullerton Armstrong

Born(1917-12-14)14 December 1917
Manchester, England[1]
Died1990s
Allegiance South Africa
Service / branch South African Air Force
Years of service1936–1976
Rank Lieutenant General
Service number01214089PE
Unit2 Squadron SAAF
Commands
  • Chief of Defence Staff
  • Chief of Air Staff
  • SA Air Force College
  • OC 2 Squadron SAAF
Battles / wars
AwardsStar of South Africa SSAG Southern Cross Medal SM Korea Medal (South Africa) ' Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal ' Union Medal ' 1939–45 Star ' Africa Star ' Defence Medal (United Kingdom) ' War Medal 1939–1945 ' Africa Service Medal (WWII) ' Distinguished Flying Cross DFC Air Medal ' United Nations Service Medal ' Korean War Service Medal ' Order of Military Merit (무공훈장) '
Spouse(s)Dorothy Greenlees
RelationsMaj Gen Bertram Armstrong (father)
Other workDirector; Atlas Corporation

Lieutenant General Raymond Fullarton Armstrong SSA SM (14 December 1917[2] – early 1990s[3]) was a South African Air Force officer, who served as Chief of Defence Staff.[4]

Biography

[edit]

He was born in Manchester when his father was seeing in the British Army during the Great War. Armstrong attended Rondebosch Boy's High School before attending the South African Military College.[2]

He joined the Special Service Battalion in 1936 and soon thereafter joined the Permanent Force. He was trained as a pilot, serving in World War II and later in the Korean War.[4]

He was Armed Forces attache in Washington. He served as Chief of Logistics Services until 1968 and Chief of Air Staff before being appointed acting Chief of Defence Staff from 1 March 1974 to 30 April 1974. He was confirmed in this appointment on 1 May 1974. He retired on 31 May 1976.[4]

After retirement he served as a director of Atlas Aircraft Corporation.[2]

Awards and decorations

[edit]

He was awarded the following:[2]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Magnus Malan (SA Army), Raymond Armstrong awarded the SSA together in 1977 and all three received the new SSA that was introduced in that year, not the old 1952 version. Proof of this is the official photo of Magnus Malan, wearing the 1975 SSA around his neck and, since (as Minister of Defence) he introduced the bad habit of wearing night medals (miniatures) by day, also the miniature 1975 SSA on his chest.
  2. ^ Sometimes spelt Ulchi

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Who's who of Southern Africa. Vol. 54. 20 December 1966. p. 106.
  2. ^ a b c d Who's Who of Southern Africa 1976. The Argus Printing and Publishing Company. 1976.
  3. ^ Liberman, Peter. "Israel and the South African Bomb". Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Nöthling, C.J.; Meyers, E.M. (1982). "LEIERS DEUR DIE JARE (1912–1982)" (Online). Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies (in Afrikaans). 12 (2): 89. doi:10.5787/12-2-631. ISSN 2224-0020. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
Military offices
Preceded by Chief of Defence Staff
1974 – 1976
Vacant
Title next held by
Ian Gleeson in 1986
Preceded by
Cbt Gen Danie du Toit
Chief of Air Staff
1970 – 1974
Succeeded by
Maj Gen JN Robbs
Preceded by
Cmdt Danie du Toit
OC SAAF College
1954 – 1960
Succeeded by
Col Pierre Retief