Ian Bonham-Carter

Who was Ian Bonham-Carter?

Air Commodore Ian Malcolm Bonham-Carter CB, OBE, RAF was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force.

After his education at Haileybury, Ian Bonham-Carter was commissioned into the Northumberland Fusiliers in 1900. Bonham-Carter served in the 5th Battalion and then the 1st Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers before being appointed adjutant in 1909. In May 1914 he attended No 6 Course at the Central Flying School, receiving his Aviator's Certificate no. 794 on 25 May 1914. After completing his flying training, Bonham-Carter served in the Royal Flying Corps until he transferred to the RAF on its creation in 1918.

In 1925, Bonham-Carter was appointed Air Officer Commanding No. 3 Group and in 1926 he took up command of No. 23 Group. He was then posted in 1928 as Commandant of No. 1 School of Technical Training.

During World War II, Bonham-Carter served as Duty Air Commodore in the Operations Room of Headquarters RAF Fighter Command.