Michael Giddings
Encyclopedia
Air Marshal
Sir Kenneth Charles Michael Giddings KCB
, OBE
, DFC
, AFC
& Bar
(27 August 1920 – 5 April 2009) was a senior Royal Air Force
officer who served as a fighter pilot during the Second World War. After retiring from the military, he became an independent panel inspector with the Department of Environment and chaired a number of inquiries concerning motorway expansion.
, London, England. He was educated at Ealing
Grammar School
.
in 1940. On 1 November 1941, he became a Sergeant in the RAFVR. He completed his pilot training in the United States of America. Upon returning to Britain, he joined No. 122 Squadron RAF
, based at RAF Turnhouse, and flew Spitfires. With the squadron he flew patrols over the Firth of Forth
. He moved with them when they were reposted to RAF Hornchurch
in the south of England. He then flew sorties over northern France.
In July 1942, Giddings flew from the aircraft carrier
HMS Eagle
, situated in the Mediterranean, to Malta
. In August he joined No. 246 Squadron RAF
and provided air support for the convoy
s involved in Operation Pedestal
. On 1 October 1942, he was regraded to the rank of Pilot Officer
on probation. During that month he flew as many as four sorties a day, and shot down at least two enemy aircraft, including an Italian Macchi C.202, and damaged numerous others. He was involved in the defence of the island from the Axis powers
until November 1942, when he was injured during an accident. He was taking off when a truck appeared on the runway in front of him. He crashed into it at high speed and broke a wrist and an arm. He then returned to England to recuperate. On 1 November 1943 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
, and on 1 September 1945 this was made permanent. He later was given seniority from 1 September 1945.
During the summer of 1944, he was made a flight commander
in No. 118 Squadron RAF
. With them he flew the Spitfire IX. With the squadron he took part in the Battle of Arnhem
, and shared the destruction of a Messerschmitt Bf 109
. In April 1945, he became the squadron commander of No. 129 Squadron RAF
.
In 1946 Giddings attended the Empire Test Pilots' School
at RAF Cranfield in Bedfordshire
, England
. Upon graduating he was sent to the Royal Aircraft Establishment
, Farnborough
, to test new jet fighters for three years. He was promoted to Squadron Leader
on 1 January 1950. He then spent five years as a Staff Officer at RAF Fighter Command
. He was then appointed as Commanding Officer
of a wing based at RAF Waterbeach. He held this position from 1954 to 1956. He was promoted to Wing Commander
on 1 January 1956, as part of the new-year promotions. His next appointment was to Central Fighter Establishment
and he commanded their tactics wing. His next flying role was as Commanding Officer of No. 57 Squadron RAF
that flew the Handley Page Victor
. On 1 July 1960, Giddings was promoted to the rank of Group Captain
, and served on the operational staff of Bomber Command
.
He was promoted to Air Commodore
on 1 January 1965. He was appointed Air Officer Commanding
Central Reconnaissance Establishment in 1967, and held the post for one year, until 1968. On 1 January 1969, he was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal
. He took another Staff appointment as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff
(Operational Requirements), in 1969. During this post he was involved in international talks about a Multi-Role Combat Aircraft, which would become the Panavia Tornado
. From 1971 to 1973, he was Chief of Staff of No. 18 Group RAF
. On 1 January 1974 he was promoted to Air Marshal
. His final appointment was as Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Operational Requirements). He retired from the RAF on 19 June 1976.
between 1979 to 1991. During this time he resided over many inquiries
concerning motorway expansion. He resided over the year-long inquiry in May 1982 concerning the extension of the M1 motorway
to link with the A1(M). At the time it was the longest inquiry ever held. He also chaired the inquiry concerning the Archway Road A1
extension in North London. The expansion would have led to the demolition of almost 200 houses and was strongly opposed. During this inquiry he and his family received a number of threats and an attack on their home. This led to Gidding's resignation from the department in 1991. He died on 5 April 2009.
in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy. Below is the citation published in the London Gazette supplement of 6 February 1945.
On 2 June 1950, it was gazetted that Squadron Leader Giddings had been awarded the Air Force Cross on 8 June 1950. On 30 May 1952 it was gazetted that he had been appointed an Ordinary Officer of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours
. He received a bar
to his AFC on 2 January 1956, when he was an Acting
Wing Commander. On 1 January 1975, in the New Year Honours
, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Military Division of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
Giddings was an accomplished pianist
. He wrote a number of music scores for television programmes, including the opening theme tune for the television drama Cathy Come Home
.
Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir Kenneth Charles Michael Giddings KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
(27 August 1920 – 5 April 2009) was a senior Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
officer who served as a fighter pilot during the Second World War. After retiring from the military, he became an independent panel inspector with the Department of Environment and chaired a number of inquiries concerning motorway expansion.
Early life
Giddings was born 27 August 1920 in WalthamstowWalthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
, London, England. He was educated at Ealing
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
Grammar School
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
.
Military career
Giddings was conscripted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer ReserveRoyal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve consists of a number of groupings of individual military reservists for the management and operation of the Royal Air Force's Air Training Corps and CCF Air Cadet formations, Volunteer Gliding Squadrons , Air Experience Flights, and also to form the...
in 1940. On 1 November 1941, he became a Sergeant in the RAFVR. He completed his pilot training in the United States of America. Upon returning to Britain, he joined No. 122 Squadron RAF
No. 122 Squadron RAF
No. 122 Squadron was a Royal Air Force fighter squadron during the first and second world wars.-History:The squadron was formed on 1 January 1918 at Sedgeford as a day bomber unit with the Airco DH.4, the intention was to train the squadron for operations on the de Havilland DH.9 but the squadron...
, based at RAF Turnhouse, and flew Spitfires. With the squadron he flew patrols over the Firth of Forth
Firth of Forth
The Firth of Forth is the estuary or firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea, between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian to the south...
. He moved with them when they were reposted to RAF Hornchurch
RAF Hornchurch
RAF Hornchurch was an airfield in the south of Hornchurch in what is now the London Borough of Havering. Known as Sutton's Farm during the First World War, it occupied of the farm of the same name and was situated east north-east of Charing Cross...
in the south of England. He then flew sorties over northern France.
In July 1942, Giddings flew from the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
HMS Eagle
HMS Eagle (1918)
HMS Eagle was an early aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy. Ordered by Chile as the Almirante Cochrane, she was laid down before World War I. In early 1918 she was purchased by Britain for conversion to an aircraft carrier; this work was finished in 1924...
, situated in the Mediterranean, to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. In August he joined No. 246 Squadron RAF
No. 246 Squadron RAF
-In the World War I:The squadron was formed at the former Royal Naval Air Station Seaton Carew, England on 18 August 1918 to provide coastal patrols. It was the only RAF squadron to operate the Blackburn Kangaroo...
and provided air support for the convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
s involved in Operation Pedestal
Operation Pedestal
Operation Pedestal was a British operation to get desperately needed supplies to the island of Malta in August 1942, during the Second World War. Malta was the base from which surface ships, submarines and aircraft attacked Axis convoys carrying essential supplies to the Italian and German armies...
. On 1 October 1942, he was regraded to the rank of Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
on probation. During that month he flew as many as four sorties a day, and shot down at least two enemy aircraft, including an Italian Macchi C.202, and damaged numerous others. He was involved in the defence of the island from the Axis powers
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
until November 1942, when he was injured during an accident. He was taking off when a truck appeared on the runway in front of him. He crashed into it at high speed and broke a wrist and an arm. He then returned to England to recuperate. On 1 November 1943 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
, and on 1 September 1945 this was made permanent. He later was given seniority from 1 September 1945.
During the summer of 1944, he was made a flight commander
Flight (military unit)
A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. It usually comprises three to six aircraft, with their aircrews and ground staff; or, in the case of a non-flying ground flight, no aircraft and a roughly equivalent number of support personnel. In most usages,...
in No. 118 Squadron RAF
No. 118 Squadron RAF
Formed at Catterick, North Yorkshire, on 1 January 1918 as a heavy night bomber unit, No. 118 Squadron never saw service in World War I and was disbanded again on 7 September 1918....
. With them he flew the Spitfire IX. With the squadron he took part in the Battle of Arnhem
Battle of Arnhem
The Battle of Arnhem was a famous Second World War military engagement fought in and around the Dutch towns of Arnhem, Oosterbeek, Wolfheze, Driel and the surrounding countryside from 17–26 September 1944....
, and shared the destruction of a Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
. In April 1945, he became the squadron commander of No. 129 Squadron RAF
No. 129 Squadron RAF
- World War I :Like a number of Squadrons, No. 129 was initially formed during the later months of the first world war but never became operational before the Armistice. It was to be a day bomber unit based at RAF Duxford.- World War II :No...
.
In 1946 Giddings attended the Empire Test Pilots' School
Empire Test Pilots' School
The Empire Test Pilots' School is a British training school for test pilots and flight test engineers of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft at MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, England. It was established in 1943, the first of its type...
at RAF Cranfield in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Upon graduating he was sent to the Royal Aircraft Establishment
Royal Aircraft Establishment
The Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
, Farnborough
Farnborough Airfield
Farnborough Airport or TAG London Farnborough Airport is an airport situated in Farnborough, Rushmoor, Hampshire, England...
, to test new jet fighters for three years. He was promoted to Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
on 1 January 1950. He then spent five years as a Staff Officer at RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...
. He was then appointed as Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of a wing based at RAF Waterbeach. He held this position from 1954 to 1956. He was promoted to Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
on 1 January 1956, as part of the new-year promotions. His next appointment was to Central Fighter Establishment
Central Fighter Establishment
The Central Fighter Establishment was a Royal Air Force formation that dealt with the development Fighter aircraft tactics. It also tested new fighter aircraft and equipment. It also dealt with the training of squadron and flight commanders. It was formed on 1 October 1944 as part of No. 12 Group...
and he commanded their tactics wing. His next flying role was as Commanding Officer of No. 57 Squadron RAF
No. 57 Squadron RAF
-History:57 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed on 8 June 1916 at Copmanthorpe, Yorkshire. In December 1916 the squadron was posted to France equipped with the FE2d. The squadron re-equipped with Airco DH4s in May 1917 and commenced long range bombing and reconnaissance operations near...
that flew the Handley Page Victor
Handley Page Victor
The Handley Page Victor was a British jet bomber aircraft produced by the Handley Page Aircraft Company during the Cold War. It was the third and final of the V-bombers that provided Britain's nuclear deterrent. The other two V-bombers were the Avro Vulcan and the Vickers Valiant. Some aircraft...
. On 1 July 1960, Giddings was promoted to the rank of Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
, and served on the operational staff of Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
.
He was promoted to Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
on 1 January 1965. He was appointed Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group...
Central Reconnaissance Establishment in 1967, and held the post for one year, until 1968. On 1 January 1969, he was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
. He took another Staff appointment as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff
Assistant Chief of the Air Staff
The Assistant Chief of the Air Staff is a senior appointment in the Royal Air Force. The incumbent is in practical terms the deputy to the head of the RAF, the Chief of the Air Staff....
(Operational Requirements), in 1969. During this post he was involved in international talks about a Multi-Role Combat Aircraft, which would become the Panavia Tornado
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...
. From 1971 to 1973, he was Chief of Staff of No. 18 Group RAF
No. 18 Group RAF
No. 18 Group of the Royal Air Force was a group active from 1918 to 1919, and from 1938 to 1996.- 1918 - 1919 :The Group was initially formed on 1 April 1918 in No 4 Area. It was transferred to North-Eastern Area, 8 May 1918...
. On 1 January 1974 he was promoted to Air Marshal
Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
. His final appointment was as Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Operational Requirements). He retired from the RAF on 19 June 1976.
Later life and death
Giddings was an independent panel inspector with the Department of EnvironmentSecretary of State for the Environment
The Secretary of State for the Environment was a UK cabinet position, responsible for the Department of the Environment . This was created by Edward Heath as a combination of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Public Building and Works on 15...
between 1979 to 1991. During this time he resided over many inquiries
Public inquiry
A Tribunal of Inquiry is an official review of events or actions ordered by a government body in Common Law countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland or Canada. Such a public inquiry differs from a Royal Commission in that a public inquiry accepts evidence and conducts its hearings in a more...
concerning motorway expansion. He resided over the year-long inquiry in May 1982 concerning the extension of the M1 motorway
M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
to link with the A1(M). At the time it was the longest inquiry ever held. He also chaired the inquiry concerning the Archway Road A1
A1 road (London)
The A1 road in London is an A road in North London. It runs from London Wall to Bignell's Corner, where it crosses the M25 and becomes the A1 motorway, alternating with the A1 as it continues to Edinburgh. The London section of the road passes through four London Boroughs: the City of London,...
extension in North London. The expansion would have led to the demolition of almost 200 houses and was strongly opposed. During this inquiry he and his family received a number of threats and an attack on their home. This led to Gidding's resignation from the department in 1991. He died on 5 April 2009.
Decorations and awards
On 9 February 1945, the then Flight Lieutenant Giddings was awarded the Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy. Below is the citation published in the London Gazette supplement of 6 February 1945.
On 2 June 1950, it was gazetted that Squadron Leader Giddings had been awarded the Air Force Cross on 8 June 1950. On 30 May 1952 it was gazetted that he had been appointed an Ordinary Officer of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
. He received a bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
to his AFC on 2 January 1956, when he was an Acting
Acting (rank)
An Acting rank, is a military designation allowing an commissioned- or non-commissioned officer to assume a rank—usually higher and usually temporary—with the pay and allowances appropriate to that grade. As such, an officer may be ordered back to the previous grade...
Wing Commander. On 1 January 1975, in the New Year Honours
New Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Military Division of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
Personal life
In 1946 he married Elizabeth McConnell, who survived him. They had four children; two sons, and two daughters.Giddings was an accomplished pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. He wrote a number of music scores for television programmes, including the opening theme tune for the television drama Cathy Come Home
Cathy Come Home
Cathy Come Home is a 1966 BBC television play by Jeremy Sandford, produced by Tony Garnett and directed by Ken Loach, about homelessness. An industry poll rated it as the best British television drama ever made. Filmed in a gritty, realistic drama documentary style, it was first broadcast on 16...
.