Air Marshal Sir Eric Dunn RIP

Kyt · Jul 24, 2008

Air Marshal Sir Eric Dunn - Telegraph

Air Marshal Sir Eric Dunn, who has died aged 80, started his RAF career as a 16-year-old aircraft apprentice and by the time he retired 42 years later had risen to be the service's chief engineer.

In April 1982 Dunn was half way through his appointment as the Air Officer Engineering at Headquarters Strike Command when Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands.

The distance of the islands from Britain, combined with their remoteness, posed some unique problems for a service that was geared, trained and equipped for the Cold War.

If the RAF's operational aircraft were to fulfil a truly useful role in the conflict, some dramatic action would be required, in particular as to the introduction of new weapons and equipment and the modification of aircraft.

Dunn and his engineering staff had to work flat out to meet the operational requirements and to introduce complex equipment in weeks, even days, rather than years. This also involved very close liaison with industry, at home and in the United States, and here Dunn played a key role.

The engineering and support functions are often overlooked during a conflict; but without the huge contribution of Dunn and his staff, the RAF's successful, and crucial, involvement in the successful outcome of the war would not have been possible.

Once the conflict was over, Dunn visited the Falklands to assess the situation. He was faced with two problems. The first was the immediate need to establish a significant RAF presence based on the damaged airfield at Port Stanley.

He had to consider the needs of, and then provide the support for, a wide-range of activities, including the deployment of Harrier aircraft, helicopters, air defence radars and missiles, in addition to making the necessary preparations for the reception of an influx of transport aircraft.

Workshops and servicing facilities were also an urgent requirement. Secondly, Dunn had to assess the long-term needs for a permanent RAF presence, including the move to a new and large airfield to be built at Mount Pleasant. His vision and success in each area provided the foundations for the engineering support that have continued for the past 26 years.

Eric Clive Dunn was born on November 27 1927 in Winchester and educated at Bridlington School. He and his father, a serving wing commander, were keen radio hams, and he joined the RAF as an aircraft apprentice in February 1944.

After three years at No 1 Radio School at RAF Cranwell, he graduated as a radio fitter (air) in second place in his entry, and was unlucky not to be selected for a technical cadetship to train as an officer. He excelled at sport, gaining his colours each year for rugby and cricket and winning the victor ludorum shield as the outstanding sportsman at the school.

After serving in England for two years, Dunn left for Hong Kong, where he worked on flying boats.

During the Korean War, the Sunderlands of the Far East Flying Boat Wing were heavily involved in operations. Dunn volunteered to fly on many of these missions, some of them 18 hours long, in order to service the aircrafts' radios, navigation, and electrical systems in flight. His efforts were very highly regarded and, despite his junior rank (corporal), he was awarded the BEM for his actions.

Not long after returning to Britain at the end of 1951 Dunn was selected for a commission in the RAF's engineering branch. He served on a number of flying stations and was one of the first officers to specialise in guided weapons, serving at the RAF's first ground-to-air missile base at North Coates, near Cleethorpes.

In February 1962 he left for Aden on a two-year appointment to command the engineering squadron at one of the RAF's largest operational airfields, Khormaksar, during a period when the station's squadrons were heavily engaged in operations in the Aden Protectorate and the Radfan.

After attending the Joint Services Staff College, Dunn was promoted to wing commander to command the engineering wing at RAF Boulmer in Northumberland, a key air defence radar station.

A succession of senior appointments at the MoD and in Cyprus followed and, once he had completed the course at the Royal College of Defence Studies, he was promoted to be Air Officer Wales in command of the large RAF maintenance station at St Athan, an appointment much to his liking since he was able to make frequent visits to Cardiff Arms Park.

A year after the Falklands War, Dunn was promoted to air marshal and was appointed to be the RAF's chief engineer. The mid-1980s was a period of significant change in the RAF and Dunn was closely involved in studies to combine engineering and supply activities, streamlining procurement methods and reviewing the RAF's technical trade structure and career patterns. He retired in July 1986. He was appointed CB in 1981 and KBE in 1983.

After leaving the RAF he was a director of Hellerman Deutsch and for four years was an engineering consultant with the Dowty Group.

Always smartly turned out, Dunn was a big man in stature and in presence and possessed a quiet, firm authority. Described by a colleague as "an outstanding officer, crisp and direct in manner and effectiveness", he had a sharp mind and held firm views. He was quick to identify problems, and to solve them with minimum of fuss. He showed great concern for the welfare of his men and their families who still speak of him with great respect and fondness.

Dunn remained an avid rugby supporter and a keen golfer. He served as a churchwarden and was president, and later patron, of the RAF Cranwell Apprentices Association. He died on July 16.

Eric Dunn married, in 1951, Margaret Gray, who survives him with their three daughters.
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Patrick1964 · Aug 7, 2008

Eric was my Godfather, a lovely man, who is much missed. Thanks for posting this.

Kyt · Aug 8, 2008

Welcome Patrick. Thank you for posting your comment. If you would like to share any stories you will find a very receptive audience

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