Sandy Wilson (RAF officer)

Sir Andrew Wilson
Nickname(s) Sandy
Born (1941-02-27) 27 February 1941
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Air Force
Years of service 1962–95
Rank Air Chief Marshal
Commands held RAF Personnel and Training Command (1994–95)
Air Member for Personnel (1993–95)
RAF Germany (1991–93)
British Forces Arabian Peninsula (1990)
No. 1 Group (1989–91)
RAF Lossiemouth (1980–82)
No. II (AC) Squadron (1976–78)
Battles/wars Gulf War
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Air Force Cross

Air Chief Marshal Sir Ronald Andrew Fellowes Wilson, KCB, AFC, FRAeS (born 27 February 1941), often known as Sir Andrew Wilson and sometimes known informally as Sir Sandy Wilson, is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer.

RAF career

Educated at Tonbridge School, Wilson joined the Royal Air Force in 1962. From 1976 to 1978 Wilson served as the Commanding Officer of No. II (AC) Squadron.[1] During this time the Squadron took delivery of the Jaguar which Wilson oversaw, flying practice reconnaissance missions.[2] In 1980 Wilson was made Station Commander of RAF Lossiemouth.[3]

In 1990 Wilson was appointed the Commander British Forces Middle East, making him the in-theatre commander for Operation Granby, the British contribution to the Gulf War. He was knighted in 1991[4] and in 1993 he was appointed Air Member for Personnel[5] and the following year, on 1 April 1994, Wilson became the first Air Officer Commander-in-Chief of Personnel and Training Command.

Retirement

He retired prematurely on 26 August 1995.[6] He was accused of using government funds to refurbish Haymes Garth, the official residence for the Air Member for Personnel based at RAF Innsworth.[7] He argued that he used funds budgeted for this purpose, but was not supported by the then Defence Minister, Sir Malcolm Rifkind.

References

Military offices
Preceded by
D C Ferguson
Commanding Officer No. II (AC) Squadron
1976–1978
Succeeded by
R Fowler
Preceded by
R Stuart-Paul
Station Commander RAF Lossiemouth
1980–1982
Succeeded by
P D Oulton
Preceded by
John Thomson
Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group
1989–1991
Succeeded by
Richard Johns
New title
Gulf War started
Commander British Forces Arabian Peninsula
In-theatre commander for Operation Granby

11 August – 30 September 1990
Succeeded by
Peter de la Billière
As Commander British Forces Middle East
New title
Build up of allied forces
Air Commander British Forces Middle East
Also Deputy Commander British Forces Middle East

1 October – 17 November 1990
Succeeded by
Bill Wratten
Preceded by
Sir Roger Palin
Commander-in-Chief RAF Germany
1991–1993
RAF Germany disestablished
Preceded by
Sir Roger Palin
Air Member for Personnel
1993–1995
Succeeded by
Sir David Cousins
New title
Command Established
Commander-in-Chief Personnel and Training Command
1994–1995
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