George Chesworth

{{Infobox military person

| name = George Arthur Chesworth

| image =

| caption =

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1930|6|4|df=yes}}

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|05|24|1930|6|4|df=yes}}

| birth_place =

| death_place =

| placeofburial =

| allegiance = {{flag|United Kingdom}}

| branch = {{air force|United Kingdom}}

| serviceyears = 1948–1984

| rank = Air Vice Marshal

| unit =

| commands =

| battles = Korean War
Falklands War

| awards = Companion of the Order of the Bath
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Flying Cross

| relations =

| laterwork = Chief Executive
Lord Lieutenant

}}

Air Vice Marshal George Arthur Chesworth {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|CB|OBE|DFC|JP}} (4 June 1930 – 24 May 2017) was a senior Royal Air Force officer and Lord Lieutenant of Moray.

Early life

Chesworth was born on 4 June 1930 in Beckenham Kent.{{cite news|title=Daily Universal Register – Happy Birthday|date=4 June 2009|work=The Times|page=33}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/birthdays-1584748.html|title=Birthdays|date=3 June 1995|work=The Independent|access-date=2009-06-07}} He began his association with the Royal Air Force when he joined the Air Training Corps.

Career

He began his military service on 28 July 1948,{{cite web |url=http://www.rafcaa.org.uk/noticeboard.html |title=National Service |author=George Chesworth |date=December 2006 |publisher=rafcaa.org.uk |access-date=2009-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815085904/http://www.rafcaa.org.uk/noticeboard.html |archive-date=15 August 2009}} when he went to the recruitment office to sign on for National Service. He was one of the few National Service pilots. He was commissioned into the RAF in May 1950.

Once Chesworth had completed his flying training, and converted to Sunderland Flying Boats, he joined No. 205 Squadron in the Far East Air Force. He flew many operational sorties against the Chinese in the Korean War for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

After the Korean War ended, Chesworth became a Flying Instructor on Percival Provost at RAF Hullavington. This was followed by a ground tour. He then went to RAF Kinloss as a Shackleton Instructor and finally back to squadron life as a Flight Commander with No. 201 Squadron RAF.

On 15 April 1980, Air Commodore Chesworth was appointed Chief of Staff (Air), Headquarters No. 18 Group RAF, with the acting rank of air vice marshal.{{London Gazette|issue=48163|supp=y|page=5965|date=22 April 1980}}

Air Vice Marshal Chesworth retired from the RAF in 1984.

Later life

In 1985, Chesworth became Chief Executive of the Glasgow Garden Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafreserves/squadrons/raflossiemouthno2622squadronnews.cfm?storyid=E11574F2-1143-EC82-2E67BECD1C6E9A12|title=Honorary Air Commodore's farewell to 2622 (Highland) Squadron|publisher=raf.mod.uk|access-date=2009-06-07}}

He was Lord Lieutenant of Moray, Scotland between 21 April 1994 and 20 August 2005, when he was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Grenville Johnston.

On 25 February 2009, Chesworth presented 80 personnel of his previous squadron, No. 201 Squadron RAF, with the Operational Service Medal Afghanistan and the Iraq Medal.{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/NimrodCrewsRecognisedForWorkInTheGulf.htm |title=Nimrod crews recognised for work in the Gulf |date=25 February 2009 |publisher=mod.uk |access-date=2009-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503155029/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/NimrodCrewsRecognisedForWorkInTheGulf.htm |archive-date=3 May 2009}}

He was the Vice President of Houses for Heroes.{{cite web|url=http://www.housesforheroes.org.uk/main/page_our_people.html |title=Our People (Committee) |year=2007 |publisher=housesforheroes.org.uk |access-date=2009-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925142750/http://www.housesforheroes.org.uk/main/page_our_people.html |archive-date=25 September 2008 }}

He died on 24 May 2017 at the age of 86.[http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/214343/chesworth CHESWORTH]

Awards and decorations

On 23 February 1954, the then Flight Lieutenant Chesworth was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross "in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Korea".{{London Gazette|issue=40107|supp=y|page=1153|date=19 February 1954}}

In the 1972 New Year Honours, the then Wing Commander Chesworth was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).{{London Gazette|issue=45554|supp=y|page=7|date= 31 December 1971}} On 11 October 1982, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) "in recognition of service within the operations in the South Atlantic".{{London Gazette|issue=49134|supp=y|page=12856|date= 8 October 1982}}

He was appointed to the honorary role of Air Commodore of No. 2622 (Highland) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment based at RAF Lossiemouth in 2001. He held that position for eight years to 2009.

On 3 August 1992, he was appointed as Honorary Colonel of the 76 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers).{{London Gazette|issue=53008|supp=y|page=13140|date=3 August 1992}}

Promotions

class="wikitable" border="1"
Rank ! Date first held
Pilot Officer \| 25 May 1950 {{London Gazette\|issue=38960\|supp=y\|page=3453\|date=4 July 1950}}
Flying Officer \| 25 May 1951 {{London Gazette\|issue=39239\|supp=y\|page=92\|date=25 May 1951}}
Flight Lieutenant \| 25 November 1953 {{London Gazette\|issue=40037\|supp=y\|pages=6655–6656\|date=4 December 1953}}
Squadron Leader \| 1 July 1961 {{London Gazette\|issue=42403\|supp=y\|page=4932\|date=30 June 1961}}
Wing Commander \| 1 January 1966 {{London Gazette\|issue=43863\|supp=y\|pages=77–78\|date=31 December 1965}}
Group Captain \| 1 January 1972 {{London Gazette\|issue=45564\|supp=y\|page=92\|date=3 January 1972}}
Air Commodore \| 1 July 1976 {{London Gazette\|issue=46953\|supp=y\|page=9290\|date=5 July 1976}}
Air Vice Marshal \| 1 January 1981 {{London Gazette\|issue=48498\|supp=y\|page=821\|date=19 January 1981}}

class="wikitable" border="1"

Rank

! Date first held

Pilot Officer

| 25 May 1950 {{London Gazette|issue=38960|supp=y|page=3453|date=4 July 1950}}

Flying Officer

| 25 May 1951 {{London Gazette|issue=39239|supp=y|page=92|date=25 May 1951}}

Flight Lieutenant

| 25 November 1953 {{London Gazette|issue=40037|supp=y|pages=6655–6656|date=4 December 1953}}

Squadron Leader

| 1 July 1961 {{London Gazette|issue=42403|supp=y|page=4932|date=30 June 1961}}

Wing Commander