Date of birth:

April 7th, 1899

Date of death:

August 17th, 1961

Service number:

08069

Nationality:

British

Alan Patrick Ritchie served with distinction in the Royal Flying Corps and later the Royal Air Force. He began his military journey in April 1917 as an aviator and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a Flying Officer by 1918. His early service included instructing Russian officers in aviation during a challenging deployment to Ekaterinodar in 1919, earning him the Air Force Cross for his perseverance and leadership.

Throughout the interwar years, Ritchie held various instructional and staff roles, including at the Central Flying School, RAF Staff College, and Directorate of Operations and Intelligence. His command experience expanded with leadership of No. 35 and No. 47 Squadrons, and later strategic postings in Palestine and Sudan.

During World War II, Ritchie played pivotal roles: he was Senior Air Staff Officer at HQ No. 5 Group, commanded RAF Cottesmore and No. 14 OTU, and served as Air Officer Commanding No. 205 and No. 93 Groups. He also acted as Air Adviser to the Special Operations Executive, contributing to covert operations and intelligence efforts.

He retired on 28 December 1945 and passed away on 17 August 1961.

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Period:

Russian Civil War (1917-1922)

Rank:

Flying Officer

Unit:

No. 113 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

July 12th, 1920

"RITCHIE, Alan Patrick, F/O

Ekaterinodar, 18 May 1919 to 3 September 1919. For tact, perseverance and energy with which Lieutenant Ritchie carried out his duties in instructing Russian officers to erect and fly British machines. This in spite of lack of confidence of the Russian pilots in our machines has earned for him the respect of his Russian pupils. He has the responsibility of testing in the air machines rigged by Russian mechanics who are often comparatively unskilled in their work."

Recommendation prepared by W/C Maund

Rank:

Wing Commander

Unit:

Combined HQ, British Forces in Palestine, British Army

Awarded on:

September 15th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Group Captain

Awarded on:

July 26th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Group Captain

Unit:

HQ, No 5 Group, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Air Commodore

Unit:

Headquarters, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1944

• - SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 15 SEPTEMBER, 1939
  - Air 1/1957/204/206/12
  - SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 12 JULY, 1920
  - SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 1 JANUARY, 1944