Michael Le Bas

Flight Lieutenant Dennis Barnham of No. 601 Squadron RAF in the cockpit of his Supermarine Spitfire Mk VB at Luqa, Malta, with Pilot Officer M H Le Bas, June 1942

Air Vice Marshal Michael Henry Le Bas, CB, CBE, DSO (awarded on 14 Nov 1944) was nicknamed "Pancho" (2 Sept 1916 – 26 January 1988). Le Bas was a British Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot who flew and fought during the Second World War in England, Malta and North Africa and continued a very successful career post war in the RAF.

Early life

Michael Le Bas was born in Rosario, Estado de Santa Fe, Argentina on the 28 Sept 1916 to Ricardo and "Minga" Florence Le Bas who lived in the small village of Fisherton outside Rosario close to the Pampa. In 1946 he was on the staff of the Directorate of Organisation (Forecasting & Planning). Following this (1948-Jul 1951 on the Directing Staff at the RAF Staff College, Bracknell. For a spell, close to a year from Jul 1951 to Apr 1952 he was on the Training Air Staff of the 2nd Tactical Air Force (TAF). April 1952 – 1954 saw him as Wing Commander Flying at RAF Wildenrath in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and then from 1954 to the staff at the School of Land/ Air Warfare up until the Suez Crisis.

Suez Crisis and afterwards

In 1956 during the Suez Crisis he was Wing Commander, deputy officer commanding, No 215 Wing/RAF at El Gamil, till early August 1959 when he became a Staff Officer in the Department of the Chief of the Air Staff.

Michael Le Bas was appointed in late August 1959 as the Officer commanding RAF Coningsby. Moreover, from late 1961 to late 1963 he was Group Captain - Operations, Headquarters at Bomber Command. In the subsequent three years he was Senior Air Staff Officer HQ Air Forces Middle East up until June 1966 when he was appointed Air Officer in charge of No 1 Group. Michael Le Bas's was promoted to Air Vice-Marshall in 1969 then he was made Director-General of RAF Personal Services.

Personal life

He was married to his wife Moyra Bentiz, and they had a son Christopher and a daughter Marilyn. Christopher also served in the RAF as a Squadron Commander. Michael Le Bas died on 26 January 1988, in Dinton, United Kingdom.