From Trenchard Brat to Air Chief Marshal

AIR CHIEF MARSHAL Sir Michael Armitage, who has died aged 92, began his long RAF career as a Halton Apprentice, one of ‘Trenchard’s Brats’. Thirty-eight years later he was promoted to the top job to be a member of the Air Force Board, one of only two former apprentices to achieve such distinction.

He entered the RAF’s Apprentice School in 1947, where he excelled, and trained as an airframe fitter. He was awarded the Elliott Memorial Prize for his final essay, a portent of things to come. As one of the top students to graduate, he was given a cadetship at the RAF College, Cranwell, where he trained as a pilot and was commissioned in April 1953.

After converting to jets, he joined 28 Squadron in Hong Kong flying the Vampire, one of the RAF’s first jets into service. Flying from the congested airport at Kai Tak, the nimble jet fighter was ideal for patrols along the Chinese border and the defence of Hong Kong.

On his return to Britain, he qualified as a flying instructor at the Central Flying School before spending the next few years instructing student pilots to fly the Vampire and the Jet Provost.

In 1966, he began the first of a series of appointments in Germany when he became the personal staff officer to the Commanderin-Chief RAF Germany and Commander of the Second Allied Tactical Air Force, Air Marshal Sir Denis Spotswood, who thought very highly of Armitage.

In late 1967 he took command of 17 Sqn, a Canberra in low-level tactical reconnaissance squadron based at Wildenrath near München Gladbach. In December 1969, he oversaw the withdrawal of the long-serving Canberra as the squadron prepared to receive the Phantom.

After two years on the directing staff of the Joint Service Staff College at Latimer, he was promoted to Gp Capt and left for Malta.

In the spring of 1972, he assumed command of the RAF station at Luqa. Following disagreements with the recently elected government of Dom Mintoff, the RAF had been forced to leave the island at the end of 1971. After a review of the bi-lateral arrangements for the RAF to be based on the island, a new agreement was reached and the squadrons returned to Luqa in 1972.

The base was home to a squadron of Canberra reconnaissance aircraft, with wideranging commitments in the Middle and Near East and in Africa. Another squadron operated the Nimrod on maritime patrol sorties throughout the Mediterranean, which monitored the activities of the Soviet Navy’s Black Sea Fleet. Luqa was also the host to many RAF and Nato squadrons participating in major air and maritime exercises.

In addition to maintaining the operational efficiency of the two squadrons, Armitage had to oversee an extensive programme to refurbish the large RAF facilities. During the Turkish invasion of Northern Cyprus in July 1974, his aircraft flew reconnaissance sorties to monitor activities on the island and the surrounding area.

He maintained his flying currency on the Canberra and enjoyed giving and receiving hospitality with his people. For his services in Malta, he was appointed CBE.

During 1975, Armitage attended the Royal

College of Defence Studies before heading to the MOD to be the Director of Forward Plans in the Air Force Department. Here he was concerned with the long-term future of the Service.

In 1978 he returned to Germany, this time as Deputy Commander at HQ RAF Germany, where he had responsibility for the day-today running of the four large operational bases and their squadrons of new-generation combat jets.

In 1980 he became the senior RAF member on the staff of the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) before taking up an appointment in the defence intelligence staff in the immediate aftermath of the Falklands War.

Three years later he was promoted to the newly-created post of Chief of Defence Intelligence, responsible for the collection and analysis of military intelligence. Armitage was also responsible for coordination of intelligence activities throughout the Armed Services.

The main focus remained issues relating to the Cold War, but out of area operations, such as the Falklands situation, attracted increasing prominence. As head of defence intelligence, he joined the heads of the other intelligence agencies at the weekly meetings of the Joint Intelligence Committee, which advised the government on issues that required operational, planning or policy action.

In 1985, Armitage was appointed to the Air Force Board as the Air Member for Supply and Organisation responsible for all the support, maintenance, supply and organisational aspects of the RAF.

In January 1988 he took up his final appointment, a return to RCDS as the Commandant, a post he found particularly stimulating. He retired from the RAF in April 1990. He was appointed KCB (1983).

Throughout his RAF career, Armitage thought deeply about military strategy, and he had a wide interest and understanding of politico/military issues. Many of his appointments provided the opportunity to pursue and develop this special interest. In retirement, he was much sought-after as a lecturer on air power, defence and military history topics.

He was a prolific writer and was a coauthor of Airpower in the Nuclear Age (1984). He also wrote Unmanned Aircraft (1988), The Royal Air Force – an Illustrated History (1999 3rd edition), and he edited Great Air Battles of the Royal Air Force (1996). He contributed to many professional journals.

Sir Michael retained a deep interest and affection for the RAF apprenticeship scheme and was president of the RAF Apprentices’ Association for many years, rarely missing annual events and reunions.