Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Grandy, GCB, GCVO, KBE, DSO, KStJ (8 February 1913 – 2 January 2004) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force. He was the only officer who fought and commanded a squadron during the Battle of Britain to reach the post of Chief of the Air Staff. In the latter role he implemented the final stages of the RAF's withdrawal from the Persian Gulf and the Far East, oversaw the ordering and subsequent cancellation of the F-111 strike aircraft and handed over Britain's nuclear deterrent role to the Royal Navy.
RAF career
The son of Francis Grandy and his wife, Nell Grandy (née Lines), Grandy was educated at Northwood Preparatory School and the University College School in London, and was commissioned into the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer on a probationary basis on 11 September 1931. After completing flying training, he was posted as a pilot to No. 54 Squadron flying Bulldogs from RAF Hornchurch in August 1932. He was confirmed in the rank of pilot officer on 11 September 1932 and promoted to flying officer on 11 June 1933. He became Adjutant of No. 604 (County of Middlesex) Squadron at RAF Hendon in April 1935 and attended the Instructors' Course at the Central Flying School in January 1936. He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 11 June 1936 and was posted to the University of London Air Squadron as Adjutant in January 1937.
Grandy served in the Second World War, initially as Squadron Commander at No. 13 Flying Training School. In April 1940 he was given command of No. 219 Squadron flying Blenheims from RAF Catterick on night patrol duties and then went on a month later to command No. 249 Squadron flying Hurricanes from RAF Church Fenton during the Battle of Britain. His squadron shot down more German aircraft than any other squadron during the Battle of Britain, one of his pilots winning the Victoria Cross. Gandy himself was shot down and hospitalised in September 1940. In December 1940 he joined the Air Staff at Headquarters RAF Fighter Command and then transferred to the Staff at No. 52 Operational Training Unit. He was promoted to wing commander on a temporary basis on 1 March 1941 and in November 1941 he was sent to RAF Duxford where he was given command of flying operations. In February 1942, he was given overall command of RAF Duxford and he oversaw the establishment there of the RAF's first Typhoon Wing. He was promoted to wing Commander on a war substantive basis on 12 August 1942 and mentioned in despatches on 1 January 1943.