Robert Foster

Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Mordaunt Foster, (3 September 1898 – 23 October 1973) was a Royal Flying Corps pilot in the First World War, and a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and the immediate post-war years.

Early life and First World War Foster was educated at Winchester College and the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, graduating as a Gentlemen Cadet. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers on 19 July 1916, but was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, and on 7 October 1916 was appointed a flying officer. He was sent to France to join No. 54 Squadron flying the Sopwith Camel. In April 1918, Foster returned to France, serving as a flight commander with the rank of temporary captain from 15 May, in No. 209 Squadron

On 2 August 1918 Foster was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, his citation reading:

Inter-war years On 1 August 1919 Foster was granted a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force with the rank of lieutenant, resigning his commission in the Royal Fusiliers the same day. In late 1919 he was posted to India where he joined No. 20 Squadron as a pilot.

In May 1925 Foster attended the RAF Staff College and the following year he spent several months at the School of Oriental Studies in London. Foster took up the post of Officer Commanding No. 15 Squadron the next year. His last tour before the outbreak of the Second World War was in the Deputy Directorate of Plans on the Air Staff. and in November that year he received an acting promotion to air commodore and was posted as Air Officer Commanding (AOC) No. 213 Group From March 1943, Foster was engaged in staff duties at Mediterranean Air Command before being appointed AOC RAF Malta a year later and receiving acting promotion to air vice marshal. and then, following the renaming of his command, served as Air Officer Commander-in-Chief Home Command. and he handed over command to Sir Harry Broadhurst in December that year. He became a Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk in April 1968, living in Great Glemham until his death on 23 October 1973.