Sir Peter Bairsto | |
---|---|
Birth name | Peter Edward Bairsto |
Born | 3 August 1926 |
Died | 24 October 2017 | (aged 91)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Navy (1944–46) Royal Air Force (1946–84) |
Years of service | 1944–84 |
Rank | Air Marshal |
Service number | 202703 |
Commands held | Northern Maritime Air Region (1980–81) |
Battles/wars | Second World War |
Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Air Force Cross Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air (2) |
Air Marshal Sir Peter Edward Bairsto, KBE, CB, AFC, DL (3 August 1926 – 24 October 2017) was a Royal Air Force officer who served as Deputy Commander of Strike Command from 1981 until his retirement in 1984.
Bairsto was born on 3 August 1926. He was educated at Rhyl Grammar School.[1]
Bairsto joined the Royal Navy in 1944 and transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1946[1] as an aircraftman. He was commissioned into the RAF Regiment with the rank of pilot officer (on probation) on 10 May 1946.[2] On 10 November 1946, his commission was confirmed and he was promoted to flying officer (war substantive).[3]
On 17 July 1947, with the end of Second World War active service, he reverted to pilot officer with seniority from 10 May 1946.[4] On 1 November 1947, he was promoted to flying officer.[5] He transferred to the General Duties Branch, the branch containing navigators and pilots, on 12 December 1951 as a flying officer with seniority from that date.[6] He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 August 1953,[7] was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in the 1955 New Year Honours[8] and an Air Force Cross in the 1957 New Year Honours.[9] In the half-yearly promotions of 1958, on 1 July, he was promoted to squadron leader.[10] In the 1960 Birthday Honours, Bairsto was awarded a further Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.[11]
He was promoted to group captain on 1 January 1969,[12] and to air commodore on 1 July 1973 in the half-yearly promotions.[13] He became Director of Operational Requirements in 1973,[14] Senior Air Staff Officer at Support Command in 1977[15] (retitled Air Officer, Training Group at RAF Support Command in 1978)[16] and Commander of the Northern Maritime Air Region in 1980.[17] He went on to be Deputy Commander of Strike Command in 1981,[18] and retired in 1984.[19]
In retirement, Bairsto became an advisor to Ferranti Group.[1] He also served as Deputy Lieutenant of Fife.[20] He died on 24 October 2017.[21]
In 1947, he married Kathleen Clarbour; they had two sons and one daughter.[1] Following the death of his first wife in 2008,[22] he married Pamela Braid (née Gibson) on 15 May 2010 at Hope Park Parish Church, St Andrews.[23]
By July 1973, he was a Member of the British Institute of Management (MBIM).[13] He was Honorary Colonel of the 79 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) until 3 August 1992.[24]