John Barraclough

Air Chief Marshal Sir John Barraclough (2 May 1918 – 10 May 2008) was a Royal Air Force pilot during the Second World War who went on to become Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.

Early life Barraclough was born on 2 May 1918. He was educated at Cranbrook School, in Cranbrook, Kent.

Military career Barraclough joined the Artists Rifles in 1935. He was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1938. However, on 14 January 1941, this was substituted for the granting of the war substantive rank of flying officer back dated to 12 August 1940. He was promoted to war substantive flight lieutenant on 12 August 1941. By February 1943, he was an acting squadron leader and flying with No. 209 Squadron RAF which was stationed in East Africa. By the end of 1945, he was an acting wing commander.

Family In 1946 he married Maureen McCormack and they went on to have one daughter.

Honours and decorations Barraclough was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on 16 February 1943 "for gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations". It was gazetted in the 1946 New Year Honours, that he had been Mentioned in Despatches.

He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1969 New Year Honours.

Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath – 13 June 1970 Commander of the Order of the British Empire – 10 June 1961 Distinguished Flying Cross – 16 February 1943 Air Force Cross – 1941 Officer of the Venerable Order of Saint John – 1985 Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air – 1 June 1953 Mentioned in Despatches – 1 January 1946 Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts FIPM FBIM (MBIM) FIPR (MIPR) Member of the Bath and County Club