Cecil Bouchier

Air Vice Marshal Sir Cecil Arthur Bouchier KBE, CB, DFC (14 October 1895 – 15 June 1979) served with the British Army, Royal Flying Corps, Indian Air Force and Royal Air Force from 1915 to 1953. He was Air Officer Commanding British Commonwealth Air Forces as part of the Occupation Force in Japan from 1945 to 1948.

Sir Cecil Bouchier
Cecil Bouchier as an air commodore
Nickname(s)	"Boy"
Born	14 October 1895 Fleet, Hampshire
Died	15 June 1979 (aged 83) Worthing Hospital, Worthing, West Sussex
Allegiance	Great Britain
Years of service	1915–1953
Rank	Air Vice Marshal
Commands held	No. 21 Group (1948–49) British Commonwealth Air Forces of Occupation (1945–48) No. 221 Group (1945) RAF Kenley (1941–42) RAF Hornchurch (1938–40) No. 54 Squadron (1936–38)
Battles/wars	First World War Second World War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Flying Cross Mentioned in Despatches (2) Order of St. Anna, 2nd Class with Swords and Bow (Russia) Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)

Bouchier was married to Dorothy Britton, who translated a number of Japanese books into English.

Awards and decorations

• Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to Flying Officer Cecil Arthur Bouchier on 18 November 1919.

Flying Officer Cyril Arthur Bouchier – A very skilful pilot of marked, initiative and courage. Has been brought to notice on many occasions for the determination shown in his attacks. His methods are somewhat original. By flying low, parallel with and behind the enemy's lines, stampeding convoys and destroying wagons, he has caused the greatest confusion amongst the enemy, to the great advantage of our own forces. Flying Officer Bouchier is a highly competent reconnaissance officer[1]

The citation had the wrong first name and was corrected to Cecil in a later gazette.[2]

• Squadron Leader Cecil Arthur Bouchier, DFC appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 23 June 1936 [3]
• Air Commodore Cecil Arthur Bouchier CBE, DFC appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 14 June 1945[4]
• 9 March 1948 Air Vice Marshal Cecil Arthur Bouchier, CB, CBE, DFC is allowed to war decoration of Commander of the Legion of Merit conferred by the President of the United States in recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war.[5]
• Air Vice Marshal Cecil Arthur Bouchier, CB, CBE, DFC appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1953[6]

Promotions

• Trumpeter, Honourable Artillery Company[7]
• Flying Officer – 2 February 1918 (Royal Flying Corps)[7]
• Flying Officer – 1 August 1919 (permanent commission Royal Air Force)[8]
• Flight Lieutenant – 1 January 1926[9]
• Squadron Leader – 1 August 1935[10]
• Wing Commander – 1 July 1938[11]
• Group Captain – 1 December 1940
• Air Commodore – 1 October 1946
• Air Vice Marshal – 25 June 1949

See also

• History of the Indian Air Force

References

Notes

1. "No. 31647". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 November 1919. p. 14000.
2. "No. 31691". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 December 1919. p. 15615.
3. "No. 34296". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 June 1936. p. 4003.
4. "No. 37119". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 1945. p. 2936.
5. "No. 38231". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 March 1948. p. 1743.
6. "No. 39732". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1952. p. 9.
7. "No. 30666". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1925. p. 5340.
8. "No. 31669". The London Gazette. 2 December 1919. p. 8.
9. "No. 33119". The London Gazette. 29 December 1925. p. 14924.
10. "No. 34187". The London Gazette. 6 August 1935. p. 5054.
11. "No. 34527". The London Gazette. 1 July 1938. p. 4248.

Further reading

• Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Vice Marshal Sir Cecil Bouchier
• Air Vice Marshal Sir Cecil Bouchier, Spitfires in Japan – A Memoir, Global Oriental, 2005.
• Grey, Jeffrey. The Commonwealth Armies and the Korean War: An Alliance Study. Manchester University Press, 1990.

Military offices
New title Indian Air Force established	Commanding Officer of the Indian Air Force 1933–1936	Succeeded by K C Hanscock
Preceded by Francis Mellersh	Air Officer Commanding No. 21 Group 1948–1949	Succeeded by G G Banting