Michael Armitage (RAF officer)

Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael John Armitage, KCB, CBE (25 August 1930 – 25 December 2022) was a British senior Royal Air Force commander.

Sir Michael Armitage
Born(1930-08-25)25 August 1930
Died25 December 2022(2022-12-25) (aged 92)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1947–1990
RankAir Chief Marshal
Commands heldRoyal College of Defence Studies
Air Member for Supply and Organisation
Chief of Defence Intelligence
RAF Luqa
No. 17 Squadron
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire

RAF career edit

Educated at Newport Grammar School on the Isle of Wight, Armitage joined the Royal Air Force's Aircraft Apprentice Scheme at RAF Halton[1] in 1947.[2] As one of the top students to graduate from the aircraft apprentice scheme, Armitage was offered a cadetship to Cranwell, and he became a pilot, his first posting upon graduation in 1953 was on 28 Sqn at RAF Kai Tak.[3] He was appointed Officer Commanding No. 17 Squadron in 1967 and Station Commander at RAF Luqa in 1972.[2] He was then Director of Forward Policy in 1976, Deputy Commander of RAF Germany in 1978 and Senior RAF Representative on the Directing Staff at the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1980.[2] He went on to be Director of Service Intelligence in 1982, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Intelligence) in 1983 and Chief of Defence Intelligence in 1984.[2] Finally he became Air Member for Supply and Organisation in 1985, Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1988 before retiring in 1990.[2]

Personal life and death edit

Following the dissolution of his first marriage he married Gretl Renate Steinig in 1970.[2]

Armitage died on 25 December 2022, at the age of 92.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ Old Haltonians
  2. ^ a b c d e f Debrett's People of Today 1994
  3. ^ Evans, Chris, ed. (9 March 2023). "Air Chief Marshal Sir Simon Armitage obituary". The Daily Telegraph. No. 52, 197. p. 9. ISSN 0307-1235.
  4. ^ "Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Armitage KCB, CBE death notice". The Telegraph. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
Military offices
Preceded by Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Intelligence)
1983–1984
Post disbanded
New title Chief of Defence Intelligence
1984–1985
Succeeded by
Preceded by Air Member for Supply and Organisation
1985–1987
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies
1988–1990
Succeeded by