Arthur Murray Longmore

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Air Chief Marshal SIR Arthur Murray Longmore, G.C.B., D.S.O., Royal Air Force (8 October, 1885 – 10 December, 1970) was an early aviation pioneer who served in the Royal Navy and Royal Naval Air Service before attaining high rank in the Royal Air Force.

Early Life & Career

He was made a Lieutenant on 30 December, 1907.[1]

Longmore started his Royal Naval service with a typical series of commands of torpedo boats. It is possible that it was he who invented the appurtenance that became known as "Longmore's Disc" for Torpedo Directors.[Fact Check]

However, his mind was set on the air, and he was appointed to Wildfire on 11 March, 1911 for a six month course in aviation. He passed for Pilot Aviator on 25 April.[2]

Longmore was to become one of the first four in the Royal Navy to be selected for training as a pilot.

On 17 May, 1912, having been deemed an "excellent aviator" by Captain Paine, who had just that day taken command of the new Central Flying School, Longmore was made a member of the school's staff under the War Office.[3]

On 15 January, 1914, he was appointed in command of Calshot Air Station, being designated an Acting Lieutenant-Commander on 24 June.[4]

The Great War

Longmore was promoted to Wing Commander on the 31 of December 1914, and to acting Commander on 5 January, 1915. In December, a Court of Enquiry into "attempted looting at Ypres by certain R.N. Air Service Officers" led to him incurring Their Lordships' displeasure. He was reverted to sea service at his substantive rank of Lieutenant-Commander.[5]

He quit Calshot on 12 January, 1916 and was appointed to Tiger as a Lieutenant-Commander, staying with her until 6 June. At the Battle of Jutland, Longmore was acting as the Officer of Turret in "A" turret.[6]

He was appointed to President in command of Killingholme Air Station on 15 June, 1916 with the rank of Wing Commander.

Post War

He was granted a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force on 1 August, 1919.[7]

World War II

Service Records

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Theodore E. J. Bigg
Captain of H.M. T.B. 74
29 Sep, 1906[8] – 15 Jul, 1907[9]
Succeeded by
John P. Gibbs
as Captain of H.M. T.B. 074
Preceded by
Harold R. Thrupp
as Captain of H.M. T.B. 076
Captain of H.M. T.B. 076
Apr, 1909[10] – 18 Oct, 1909[11]
Succeeded by
Francis H. Sandford
Preceded by
Henry V. Hudson
Captain of H.M. T.B. 111
19 Oct, 1909[12] – 20 Nov, 1910[13]
Succeeded by
Roger L. Wiles
Preceded by
Percy J. Helyar
Captain of H.M. T.B. 24
21 Nov, 1910[14] – 20 Feb, 1911[15]
Succeeded by
Thomas G. Carter
Preceded by
?
In Command, Calshot Air Station
15 Jan, 1914 – 12 Jan, 1916
Succeeded by
Arthur W. Bigsworth
Preceded by
?
In Command, Killingholme Air Station
15 Jun, 1916 – 7 Sep, 1916
Succeeded by
Charles R. Finch Noyes
Preceded by
?
In Command, Eastchurch Air Station
7 Sep, 1916 – 3 Feb, 1917
Succeeded by
John M. Steel
Preceded by
Sir Lionel G. Preston
Commandant of the Imperial Defence College
1937 – 1 Jan, 1939[16]
Succeeded by
Thomas H. Binney

 

Footnotes

  1. Longmore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/143. f. 621.
  2. Longmore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/143. f. 621.
  3. Longmore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/143. f. 621.
  4. Longmore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/143. f. 621.
  5. Longmore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/143. f. 621.
  6. Longmore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/143. f. 621.
  7. Longmore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/143. f. 621.
  8. The Navy List. (January, 1907). p. 399.
  9. Longmore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/143. f. 621.
  10. Longmore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/143. f. 621.
  11. Longmore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/143. f. 621.
  12. The Navy List. (April, 1910). p. 399.
  13. Longmore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/143. f. 621.
  14. Longmore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/143. f. 621.
  15. Longmore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/143. f. 621.
  16. Superseded that day. Binney Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/9. f. 412.