Joseph Gilbert (RAF officer)

Educated at William Hulme's Grammar School^[1] and the University of Leeds,^[2] Gilbert joined the Royal Air Force under a National Service Commission in 1952.^[3] Gilbert served in fighter squadrons until 1961 when he joined the Air Secretary's Department.^[2] He attended RAF Staff College in 1964 and became Commanding Officer of No. 92 Squadron flying Lightnings from RAF Geilenkirchen in 1965.^[2] He attended Joint Services Staff College in 1968.^[2] He then joined the Defence Policy Staff, becoming Assistant Director of Defence Policy before he left.^[2] In 1971 he became Station Commander at RAF Coltishall before attending the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1974.^[2]

He was appointed Director of Forward Policy in January 1975,^[4] Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Policy) in November 1975,^[4] Air Officer Commanding No. 38 Group in 1977^[5] and Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Policy) in 1980.^[6] He then became Deputy Air Officer Commanding of Strike Command in 1984^[7] and, having been promoted to air chief marshal,^[8] he went on to be Deputy Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Northern Europe in 1986^[9] before retiring in 1989.^[10]

He was made an honorary graduate (LLD) of the University of Leeds in 1989.^[11] He is also a life Vice-President of the Royal Air Forces Association and was Vice-Chairman of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission from 1993 to 1998 and the Prime Minister's trustee of the Imperial War Museum from 1997 to 2002.^[2]