Bottomley, Norman Howard

Date of birth:: September 18th, 1891 (Ripponden/Yorkshire, Great Britain)
Date of death:: August 13th, 1970
Nationality:: British

Biography

Sir Norman Bottomley was educated at Halifax School and the University of Rennes in Brittany before being commissioned into the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1914 during World War I. He served with his Regiment until transferring to the Royal Flying Corps in 1915 and becoming a pilot with No. 47 Squadron.

Between the wars Bottomley's appointments included service in the Middle East and the command of No. 4 (AC) Squadron RAF from 1928 and No. 1 (Indian) Group from 1934. Bottomley was Senior Air Staff Officer at Bomber Command headquarters between 1938 and 1940, continuing in that role at the start of the Second World War, and was then appointed Air Officer Commanding No. 5 Group in November 1940.

He was moved to Deputy Chief of the Air Staff in 1941 and then Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) in 1942 before reverting to Deputy Chief of the Air Staff in 1943. He was one of the leading proponents of 'Area Bombing' being instrumental in its acceptance as policy. However, with the build up for Overlord well underway he tried to get Harris to changeover to precision bombing, a task which brought the two into conflict on a number of occasions. On 15 September 1945, he followed Sir Arthur 'Bomber' Harris as Commander-in-Chief Bomber Command, retaining command until 16 January 1947.

Bottomley became Inspector-General of the RAF in 1947 and retired on 1 January 1948. From 1948 until 1956, he held the post of Director of Administration at the BBC.

Promotions:
(Army): - 2 Lt: 15 Aug 1914
Lt: 12 Feb 1915
Capt: 9 Apr 1916.

(RAF):
Capt: 1 Apr 1918
Flt Lt: 1 Aug 1919
Sqn Ldr: 30 Jun 1922
Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1929
Act Gp Capt: 4 Oct 1934
Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1935
A/Cdre: 1 Nov 1938
Act AVM: 4 Mar 1940
(T) AVM: 1 Jul 1940
AVM: 14 Apr 1942
Act AM: 1 Aug 1943
(T) AM: 16 Aug 1944
AM: 1 Jan 1946
ACM: 23 Mar 1947

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Air Force Cross (AFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Captain
Unit:: No. 47 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
Awarded on:: November 2nd, 1918

Mentioned in Dispatches

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:: No. 47 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
Awarded on:: 1919

King George V's Silver Jubilee Medal 1935

Awarded on:: 1935

Companion of the Indian Empire (CIE)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Group Captain
Unit:: No. 1 (Indian) Group, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: May 11th, 1937

Mentioned in Dispatches

Rank:: Group Captain
Unit:: No. 1 (Indian) Group, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: November 12th, 1937

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Rank:: Group Captain
Unit:: No. 1 (Indian) Group, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: December 21st, 1937

Recommendation:
"Group Captain N. H. Bottomley, C.I.E., A.F.C., has commanded No. 1 (Indian) Group, Peshawar, during these operations from 16 June to 13 July 1937. He has been responsible for the direction of the operations and of the Air Forces engaged in Waziristan during that period. He has handled the Air Forces under his command with conspicuous ability and success. He has at all times displayed a high sense of devotion to duty. In order to keep himself in close touch with the progress of the operations, he has undertaken a great deal of flying duty including a number of reconnaissances at low altitude over the area of operations. He has in this way shown an excellent example to all those under his command. The success of the operations is in no small measure due to his personal conduct."

King George VI Coronation Medal

Rank:: Group Captain
Unit:: No. 1 (Indian) Group, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: 1937

Mentioned in Dispatches

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: February 18th, 1938

Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB, Military Division)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Air Vice-Marshal
Awarded on:: March 12th, 1941

Citation:
"Air Vice-Marshal Bottomley is a first class Staff Officer, who had maintained the highest standard of ability and devotion to duty throughout six months of intensive operations. His tact, forethought and operational knowledge are outstanding and much of the success of this Command should be attributed to his personal efficiency, and to the example of patience and thoroughness which he has always set to his subordinates."

Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB, Military Division)

Commander of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (KCB/DCB, military division)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: June 8th, 1944

Legion of Merit - Chief Commander (LoM - CC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Air Marshal
Unit:: Deputy Chief of Air Staff, U.S. Strategic Air Force
Awarded on:: October 9th, 1945

Citation:
"Air Marshal Sir Norman Bottomley, K.C.B., C.I.E., D.S.O., A.F.C., as Deputy Chief of Air Staff, United States Strategic Air Force from August 1942 to May 1945, demonstrated a high order of professional knowledge and administrative ability, which played a conspicuous and valuable part in the successful employment of the British and American Air Forces in Europe. His initiative and sound judgment, in both planning and execution of the combined bomber offensive, greatly contributed to the complete domination over the enemy established by the Air Forces."