PORTAL (OF HUNGERFORD), CHARLES FREDERICK ALGERNON ...

born May 21, 1893, Hungerford, Berkshire, Eng. died April 23, 1971, Chichester, Sussex British air marshal and chief of the British Air Staff during World War II. Educated at Winchester and Christ Church College, Oxford, Portal joined the Royal Engineers as a dispatch rider during World War I, and in 1915 he was commissioned in the Royal Flying Corps. He distinguished himself as a fighter pilot by shooting down several enemy aircraft; for this he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Bar and the Military Cross. Between the wars his posts in the Royal Air Force (RAF) included those of commander of the British forces, Aden; instructor at the Imperial Defence College; and director of organization and air member for personnel at the Air Ministry. In 1940 for a short time he held the appointment of air officer commander-in-chief, Bomber Command. Soon after he became chief of the air staff, the highest post in the RAF, which he held until 1945. In addition to his duties at the Air Ministry, directing the policy and operations of the RAF, he took a prominent part in all the important Allied conferences as a member of the Chiefs of Staffs Committee. From 1946 to 1951 Lord Portal was responsible for administering the atomic research facilities at Harwell. He was created a baron in 1945 and a viscount in 1946.