John Slessor - World War II

World War II

Slessor was promoted air commodore on the first day of World War II, 1 September 1939. On 10 January 1941, he was raised to temporary air vice marshal (made permanent in April 1942) and became Air Officer Commanding No.5 (Bomber) Group in May 1941. Appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath and mentioned in despatches in January 1942, he was appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in April 1942. Slessor was closely involved in planning the combined Allied air offensive in Europe. At the Casablanca Conference in January 1943, he was able to influence Britain's Secretary for Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair, and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, to agree to USAAF proposals that led to a 'round-the clock' bombing policy against Germany, with the US mounting daylight precision attacks and the RAF conducting area bombing at night.

Appointed AOC Coastal Command with the acting rank of air marshal on 5 February 1943, Slessor was credited with doing "much to start winning the Battle of the Atlantic", employing his thinly stretched long-range bomber force against the U-boat threat, in close cooperation with naval forces. Promoted temporary air marshal on 1 June 1943, he was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1943 Birthday Honours. He went on to become Commander-in-Chief RAF Mediterranean and Middle East in January 1944, and deputy to Lieutenant General Ira Eaker as Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Allied Air Forces. In this role he conducted operations in the Italian Campaign and Yugoslavia, establishing the Balkan Air Force in the latter theatre. Slessor was made Air Member for Personnel on 5 April 1945, his rank of air marshal becoming substantive on 6 June 1945.

He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Greek Order of the Phoenix on 6 September 1946 and appointed a Commander of the Belgian Order of Leopold on 27 August 1948.