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John Severne

1925 – 2015

Royal Air Force officer and aerobatic display pilot

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About John Severne

Lived 1925 – 2015 (aged 90). John Severne was a racing driver.

Air Vice Marshal Sir John de Milt Severne, (15 August 1925 – 4 October 2015) was a senior Royal Air Force officer and aerobatic display pilot. Senior appointments included Commanding Officer of RAF Kinloss, Commandant of the Central Flying School, Air Officer Commanding the Southern Maritime Air Region, and Captain of the Queen's Flight. In 1960, he won the King's Cup Race and the British air racing championship.

Honours and decorations On 1 March 1955, Severne was awarded the Air Force Cross (AFC) "in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty". The actions that led to him being awarded the AFC were described in the London Gazette as follows:

In the 1968 New Year Honours, Severne was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This was in recognition of his role in the withdrawal of British forces from Aden in 1967. On 17 May 1991, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) of the County of Somerset.

Other medals awarded to Severne were the War Medal 1939–1945, the General Service Medal with South Arabia clasp, the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Awards
Royal Victorian Order; Air Force Cross; Officer of the Order of the British Empire; Air Force Cross (United Kingdom); Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Also known as
Sir John de Milt Severne

People in John Severne's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John Severne's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Severne?

Royal Air Force officer and aerobatic display pilot

When was John Severne born?

John Severne was born on 15 August 1925.

When did John Severne die?

John Severne died on 4 October 2015.

What was John Severne's occupation?

John Severne was a racing driver.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Severne

· Wikidata: Q21151316

· DBpedia: John Severne

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Severne. https://biography.guide/john-severne-racing-driver/

MLA: "John Severne." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-severne-racing-driver/.

Chicago: "John Severne." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-severne-racing-driver/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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