Stewart Menaul

Air Vice Marshal Stewart William Blacker Menaul, (17 June 1915 – 22 May 1987) was an officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF). During the Second World War he served in RAF Bomber Command with the elite Pathfinder Force. After the war he participated in the British nuclear weapons tests in Australia, and was on board the Vickers Valiant that dropped Britain's first atomic bomb on 11 October 1956 during Operation Buffalo.

Early life and career Stewart William Blacker Menaul was born on 17 June 1915. He was educated in Laurelvale and Portadown, in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. He joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1931 as an apprentice with No. 2 School of Technical Training at RAF Cranwell. In 1935 he commenced flight training with C Squadron at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, and on completion of his training, was commissioned as a pilot officer on 19 December 1936.

Second World War Menaul was posted to No. 21 Squadron RAF, which was then flying the Hawker Hind biplane. and was granted the acting rank of flight lieutenant on 7 April 1939. He relinquished the rank on 11 May 1939, but was restored to it on 19 June 1940. In 1940 and 1941 he was a flight instructor.

Menaul's next assignment was to No. 15 Squadron RAF, a bomber squadron flying the Vickers Wellington and later the Short Stirling. Promoted to squadron leader on 1 September 1941, he became the squadron commander on 7 January 1942.

In May 1943, with his combat tour completed, Menaul was assigned to the staff of No. 3 Group RAF. the rank became substantive on 7 November. He became the commander of RAF Gransden Lodge on 5 June 1943, RAF Graveley on 23 August 1943, and RAF Upwood on 6 December 1944.

Post war After the war, Menaul attended the RAF Staff College, Bracknell, and joined the staff of the RAF Directorate of Organisation (Forecasting and Planning). He attended the Imperial Defence College in 1950, and then became Deputy Director of Operations.

In 1955, Menaul attended US nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site, and was on board the Vickers Valiant that dropped Britain's first atomic bomb on 11 October 1956 during Operation Buffalo.

Menaul returned to England in 1957, and became the commander of the Bomber Command Bombing School at RAF Lindholme. In April 1959, he became the Air Officer-in-Charge Administration for the British Forces in the Arabian Peninsula. and air vice-marshal on 3 May 1961. He became Senior Air Staff Officer at Bomber Command on 27 April 1961, and was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1963 Birthday Honours. His final posting, on 5 July 1965, was as commandant of the Joint Services Staff College. He retired on 29 April 1968.

Later life After leaving the RAF, "Paddy" Menaul (as he was known), became Director General of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Under his guidance, it transformed from a society of military men with a respected journal into a well-known voice in public policy matters. He retired on 13 August 1976, and became a defence consultant. He achieved widespread public recognition as an Independent Television commentator on the 1982 Falklands War.