Vyell Vyvyan

Sir Arthur Vyell Vyvyan
Born	12 March 1875
Died	30 September 1935
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy (1891- 1918)  Royal Air Force (1918 - 1925)
Rank	Air Vice-Marshal
Commands held	HMS Endymion North-Western Area Coastal Area
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal (United States)[1]

Air Vice-Marshal Sir Arthur Vyell Vyvyan KCB DSO (12 March 1875 – 30 September 1935), usually given as Sir Vyell Vyvyan, was an officer in the Royal Navy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1916, while holding the rank of captain, Vyvyan became involved in naval aviation, serving as the Assistant to the Superintendent of Aircraft Construction before being appointed the Assistant to the Director of the Air Service.

With the impending establishment of the Royal Air Force, Vyvyan was employed at the Air Ministry and was promoted to brigadier-general in the RAF. Departing London in just after the 1 April 1918 when the RAF was formally created, Vyvyan briefly returned to operational service as the senior RAF officer in Mediterranean. In late April he was recalled to Great Britain and appointed General Officer Commanding the RAF's Northern Area. The following year he became Air Officer Commanding Coastal Area, receiving a promotion to air vice-marshal shortly after taking up post. He retired from the RAF in 1925.

Honours and awards

• Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath - 2 Jun 1923 (CB - 3 Jun 1918)
• Distinguished Service Order - 14 Mar 1916
• Mentioned in Despatches - 14 Mar 1916, 3 Jun 1918
• Officer of the Legion of Honour - 11 Aug 1917 (France)
• Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd class - 8 Nov 1918 (Japan)
• Distinguished Service Medal (United States) - 16 Dec 1919
• Grand Commander of the Order of the Redeemer - 1920 (Greece)

References

1. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31691. p. 15614. 16 December 1919.

• Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Vice-Marshal Sir Vyell Vyvyan