Sir Geoffrey Dhenin | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1918-04-04)4 April 1918 |
| Died | 6 May 2011(2011-05-06) (aged 93) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Service years | 1943–1978 |
| Rank | Air Marshal |
| Service number | 138384 |
| Commands | RAF Medical Services |
| Conflicts | Second World War Cold War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Air Force Cross &Bar George Medal Commander of the Order of St John Mentioned in Despatches |
Air MarshalSir Geoffrey Howard Dhenin,KBE, AFC &Bar, GM, CStJ (2 April 1918 – 6 May 2011) was a British physician and seniorRoyal Air Force officer. From 1974 to 1978, he served as Director General of theRAF Medical Services.[1]
Dhenin was born on 4 April 1918, three days after the formation of theRoyal Air Force, inBridgend,Glamorgan, Wales.[2][3] He was educated atHereford Cathedral School, then an all-boysgrammar school inHereford, Herefordshire.[1] Having won a scholarship, he studiedNatural Sciences atSt John's College, Cambridge.[1][3] He then continued his studies atGuy's Hospital Medical School, and qualified as amedical doctor.[2]
In the 1950s, Dhenin undertook research for aDoctor of Medicine (MD) degree at theUniversity of Cambridge. Hisdoctoral thesis was titled "Radiation hazards in aviation", and was completed in 1956.[4]
On 11 February 1943, Dhenin wascommissioned into theMedical Branch of theRoyal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as aflying officer (emergency).[5] He was then appointed the medical officer ofNo. 166 Squadron RAF, anAvro Lancaster bomber squadron that was based atRAF Kirmington.[1][6] During his time at Kirmington, he was awarded theGeorge Medal for a rescuing an airman from a burning wreck in October 1943.[2][7] On 8 June 1944, two days afterD-Day, he transferred to amobile field hospital.[2][6] Based inNormandy, France, he was tasked withevacuating casualties by air from thecampaign across North-West Europe.[1][3]
On 1 September 1945, after the end of the Second World War, Dhenin transferred to the Medical Branch of theRoyal Air Force as aflight lieutenant.[8]
As part of the half-yearly promotions, he was promoted toair commodore (one star rank) on 1 January 1967.[9]
On 14 January 1944, Dhenin was awarded theGeorge Medal (GM), the second highestcivil decoration of the UK, for rescuing an airman from a crashed and burning bomber.[7] In the1954 New Year Honours, he was awarded anAir Force Cross (AFC) for flying a plane into themushroom cloud of the firstBritish nuclear bomb test in Australia in 1953.[10][2] In the1959 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was awarded abar to his Air Force Cross (i.e. he was awarded the AFC for a second time).[11] In November 1974, he was appointed aCommander of the Order of St John (CStJ).[12] In the1975 New Year Honours, he wasknighted as aKnight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).[13]
One night in October, 1943, an aircraft, which had sustained damage during an attack against Hanover, crashed near an airfield. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and immediately burst into flames. The rear gunner was injured and trapped in his crushed turret, being pinned down by the remains of the tail unit and the rear of the fuselage. A high explosive bomb was in the blazing wreckage some 10 yards away from the gunner. Flying Officer Dhenin, the station medical officer, and Corporal Lush, a gunner, hastened to the scene of the accident. Although fully aware that the heat might cause the bomb to detonate at any moment Flying Officer Dhenin worked for over half an hour to relieve the injured airman's pain and, assisted by Corporal Lush, endeavoured to release him. Their efforts to extricate the gunner were, however, unavailing. A mobile crane was brought to the scene and the mass of wreckage was lifted clear of the ground. Displaying complete disregard for his own safety, Flying Officer Dhenin then crawled under the wreckage and released the trapped airman thereby enabling others helpers to drag him to safety. Flying Officer Dhenin and Corporal Lush showed fine courage and determination in circumstances of great danger.
— The citation for hisGeorge Medal[7]
Dhenin married Evelyn in 1946. She died in 1996. He married Syvia in 2002.[1]
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