Robert Foster

Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Mordaunt Foster, (3 September 1898 – 23 October 1973) was a Royal Flying Corps pilot in the First World War, and a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and the immediate post-war years. Early life and First World War Foster was educated at Winchester College and the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, graduating as a Gentlemen Cadet. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers on 19 July 1916, but was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, and on 7 October 1916 was appointed a flying officer. He was sent to France to join No. 54 Squadron flying the Sopwith Camel. While with 54 Squadron, Foster shot down at least one enemy machine. Later in the war Foster returned to Great Britain, carrying out home defence duties whilst serving with No. 44 Squadron. On 19 January 1918 he was promoted to lieutenant. In April 1918, Foster returned to France, serving as a flight commander with the rank of temporary captain from 15 May, in No. 209 Squadron where he claimed three shared enemy aircraft captured, nine shared enemy aircraft destroyed, and four shared enemy aircraft 'out of control', giving a total of 16. On 2 August 1918 Foster was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, his citation reading: Inter-war years On 1 August 1919 Foster was granted a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force with the rank of lieutenant, resigning his commission in the Royal Fusiliers the same day. In late 1919 he was posted to India where he joined No. 20 Squadron as a pilot. On one occasion during his nearly four years in India, after suffering an aircraft fire, Foster and his observer had to make a forced landing and they were subsequently captured and held for three weeks before being released.