Gordon Herbert Vasse

Air Commodore Gordon Herbert Vasse, (23 April 1899 – 26 March 1965) was a fighter pilot in the First World War and a senior Royal Air Force commander during the Second World War and into the early 1950s. During most of the Second World War he was Director of Air Tactics for the RAF.

In his final appointment Vasse also served as the seventh Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps. Vasse was chosen as one of the RAF's principal representatives to the funeral of King George VI in 1952.

RAF career Early career In 1917 Vasse joined the Royal Naval Air Service as a trainee pilot in the rank of Probationary Flight Officer and was later promoted to flight sub-lieutenant. When the Royal Air Force (RAF) was formed in March 1918 Vasse transferred to the new service in the rank of second lieutenant and was rapidly promoted to pilot officer and then flying officer. After seeing active combat duty as a fighter pilot in the latter stages of the First World War Vasse was transferred to the unemployed officer list in September 1919.

Back to the RAF In October 1921 Vasse rejoined the RAF on a short service commission in the rank of flying officer and posted as a supernumerary pilot at the RAF Central Depot. After a further supernumerary posting to the School of Technical Training he was posted to No. 6 Squadron RAF as a pilot in April 1923. After a short one-month period as a supernumerary at the Central Depot over the Christmas of 1925 he was granted a permanent commission in January 1926 and posted as an instructor to the RAF's Air Armament and Gunnery School. Promoted to flight lieutenant in July 1927, in March 1929 he was appointed Armaments Officer at the RAF North Coates gunnery practice range in Lincolnshire where he remained until November 1930.