Duncan Pitcher

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Duncan le Geyt Pitcher
31 August 1877–1 September 1944
Pitcher during World War I
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	c. 1898 – 12 April 1929
Rank	Air Commodore
Battles/wars	World War I

Air Commodore Duncan le Geyt Pitcher CMG CBE DSO RAF (31 August 1877–1 September 1944) was an infantry and cavalry officer in the British Indian Army. During World War I he served in the Royal Flying Corps and became a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in his later years.

[edit] Military aviation

Pitcher was sent from India to the Central Flying School in Great Britain in order to learn how to fly and gain the requsite knowledge to set up a flying school in India. World War I broke out before he could return to India and Pitcher became involved in military avaition in Europe.

Pitcher attended the Central Flying School as a pilot under training in 1913 and once he had completed his course, he remained on the staff until the summer of 1914 when he was attached to No 4. Squadron RFC. He returned to the Central Flying School, probably in late 1914 and was appointed Officer In-charge of Transport. Immediately following the New Year of 1915, Pitcher took up instructional duties before being appointed a squadron commander at the Central Flying School in late January. In April 1915 he was appointed Assistant Commandant at the Central Flying School in which capacity he served until mid November 1915. Pitcher then spent around a month as a Royal Flying Corps wing commander before returning to the Central Flying School as it Commandant when Godfrey Paine returned to naval duties at Cranwell.

The 1 April 1916 saw Pitcher promoted and appointed Brigadier-General Commanding the I Brigade.

[edit] References

Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Commodore D le G Pitcher

Military offices
Preceded by G M Paine	Commandant of the Central Flying School 1915–1916	Succeeded by C J Burke
Vacant Title last held by E A D Masterman	Air Officer Commanding No. 22 Group 1926–1929	Succeeded by N D K MacEwen