§ 68. Wing-Commander Hulbertasked the Secretary of State for Air how many Regular officers resigned or retired in 1947 and 1948; how many applications to do so were refused; and if he will give details of the ranks of the officers concerned.
§ Mr. A. HendersonForty-seven Regular officers retired at their own request or resigned in 1947 and 79 in 1948. Their ranks were as follows:
1947 1948 Air officers … 1 7 Group captains … 6 8 Wing commanders … 6 12 Squadron leaders … 13 15 Flight lieutenants … 12 33 Flying officers … 9 4 In addition, 59 and 68 officers on short-term regular commissions were allowed to transfer prematurely to the Reserve in 1947 and 1948 respectively. Their ranks were as follows:
1947 1948 Wing commanders … 1 1 Squadron leaders … 6 7 Flight lieutenants … 29 17 Flying officers … 21 30 Pilot officers … 2 13 Detailed records are not kept of applications for voluntary retirement or resignation which are refused. Some are stopped at Command level, but so far as can be ascertained in the Air Ministry, 27 applications were refused in 1947 and 43 in 1948.