Frederick Halahan

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Frederick Crosby Halahan
Born(1880-05-27)27 May 1880
Camberwell, Surrey
Died17 October 1965(1965-10-17) (aged 85)
Battle, East Sussex
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy (1894–18)
Royal Air Force (1918–31)
Years of service1894–1930, 1939-?
RankAir Vice Marshal
Commands heldRAF College Cranwell (1926–29)
No. 5 Group (1918)
Battles/warsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order
Member of the Royal Victorian Order
Mentioned in Despatches
Commander of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)
Croix de guerre (Belgium)
Officer of the Legion of Honour (France)

Air Vice Marshal Frederick Crosby Halahan, CMG, CBE, DSO, MVO, DL (27 May 1880 – 17 October 1965) was a gunnery officer in the Royal Navy during the early years of the 20th century who became involved in early naval aviation efforts.

Naval and Air Force service[]

Halahan served in the Royal Navy, and was promoted lieutenant on 15 December 1900.[1] He later served through the First World War with the navy and in the Royal Air Force from its establishment in 1918 through to 1930, including posting as commandant of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in 1926–29. During the Second World War, Halahan rejoined the RAF, serving on the staff of the Directorate of Personal Services.

Screen portrayal[]

Halahan was portrayed by Walter Hudd in the 1956 film Reach for the Sky as the Cranwell commandant who gives a friendly reprimand to young Douglas Bader for his disregard for service discipline and flight rules.[2] Despite that Bader successfully completed his training and was posted to No. 23 Squadron at RAF Kenley before he famously lost his legs.

References[]

  1. ^ "No. 27372". The London Gazette. 5 November 1901. p. 7146.
  2. ^ Mackenzie, S.P. (2008). Bader's War. Spellmount Publishers. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-7524-5534-1.For real life details, described as a "private warning".

External links[]

Military offices
Preceded by Commandant Royal Air Force College Cranwell
1926–1929
Succeeded by
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