Richard Saul

For the American football player, see Rich Saul.

Richard Ernest Saul
Air Vice-Marshal Richard Saul
Born	16 April 1891 Dublin, Ireland
Died	30 November 1965 (aged 74)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army Royal Air Force
Years of service	1914–1944
Rank	Air Vice-Marshal
Commands held	No. 4 Squadron No. 7 Squadron No. 12 Squadron No. 2 Squadron No. 203 Squadron No. 13 Group No. 12 Group Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean
Battles/wars	First World War Second World War
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Flying Cross Mention in Despatches
Other work	United Nations official

Air Vice-Marshal Richard Ernest Saul CB, DFC, RAF (16 April 1891 – 30 November 1965) was a pilot during World War I and a senior Royal Air Force commander during World War II.

Earlier Years

Saul was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1891. At the start of the First World War he was a second lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps but by 1916 he was a Flying Officer (Observer) with No. 16 Squadron of the Army's Royal Flying Corps. During the war he rose to command No. 4 Squadron and after the armistice he commanded No. 7 Squadron and then No. 12 Squadron. In 1925 he was given command of No. 2 Squadron. A keen sportsman Saul played rugby and hockey for the RAF; in both 1928 and 1932 he was the RAF tennis champion.

In September 1933 Saul was appointed the Officer Commanding No. 203 Squadron operating out of Basra in Iraq and in 1935 Saul led a flight of flying boats, from his squadron, on a long-distance journey from Plymouth to Basra.

World War II and beyond

During World War II Saul was air officer commanding No. 13 Group from 1939, air officer commanding No. 12 Group from 1940 and then air officer commanding Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean from 1943.

Saul retired from the RAF on 29 June 1944 and then served as the Chairman of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration's mission in the Balkans. He next acted as the Vice-Chairman of the International Transport Commission in Rome. After Saul left Rome in 1951, he took up employment as the manager of the University of Toronto bookshop until finally retiring in 1959. Richard Saul died on 30 November 1965 after being hit by a car two days earlier.

Honours and awards

• Companion of the Order of the Bath - 17 March 1941
• Distinguished Flying Cross - 1 January 1919
• Mentioned in Despatches - 11 July 1940
• Chevalier of the Order of the Crown - 15 July 1919
• Croix de Guerre with Palms (Belgium) - 15 July 1919

References

• Century of Flight - Air Vice Marshal Richard Ernest Saul D.F.C.
• The Kenton Bar Bunker - Air Vice Marshal Richard Saul
• Valka.cz - Air Vice Marshal Richard Saul (Czech)

Military offices
Preceded by L Jenkins	Officer Commanding No. 4 Squadron 2 December 1917 – 5 January 1919	Succeeded by H B Prior
Preceded by L F Forbes	Officer Commanding No. 2 Squadron 2 March 1925 – 8 January 1927	Succeeded by W Sowrey
Preceded by W L Welsh	Officer Commanding No. 203 Squadron 29 September 1933 – 20 March 1936	Succeeded by W B Callaway
Preceded by E A B Rice	Officer Commanding RAF Calshot 31 July 1936 – 10 June 1937	Succeeded by A Coningham
New title	Air Officer Commanding No. 13 (Fighter) Group 24 July 1939 – 17 December 1940	Succeeded by J O Andrews
Preceded by T L Leigh-Mallory	Air Officer Commanding No. 12 (Fighter) Group 17 December 1940 – 29 November 1942	Succeeded by J O Andrews
Preceded by W A McClaughry	Air Officer Commanding Air Headquarters Egypt Became AOC Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean on 4 March 1943 5 January 1943 – 1 February 1944	Succeeded by T A Langford-Sainsbury As AOC Air Headquarters Eastern Mediterranean