Arthur Murray Longmore

Air Chief Marshal SIR Arthur Murray Longmore, G.C.B., D.S.O., Royal Air Force (8 October, 1885 – 10 December, 1970) was an early aviation pioneer who served in the Royal Navy and Royal Naval Air Service before attaining high rank in the Royal Air Force.

Early Life & Career

He was made a Lieutenant on 30 December, 1907.

Longmore started his Royal Naval service with a typical series of commands of torpedo boats. It is possible that it was he who invented the appurtenance that became known as "Longmore's Disc" for Torpedo Directors.^{[Fact Check]}

However, his mind was set on the air, and he was appointed to Wildfire on 11 March, 1911 for a six month course in aviation. He passed for Pilot Aviator on 25 April.

Longmore was to become one of the first four in the Royal Navy to be selected for training as a pilot.

On 17 May, 1912, having been deemed an "excellent aviator" by Captain Paine, who had just that day taken command of the new Central Flying School, Longmore was made a member of the school's staff under the War Office.

On 15 January, 1914, he was appointed in command of Calshot Air Station, being designated an Acting Lieutenant-Commander on 24 June.

The Great War

Longmore was promoted to Wing Commander on the 31 of December 1914, and to acting Commander on 5 January, 1915. In December, a Court of Enquiry into "attempted looting at Ypres by certain R.N. Air Service Officers" led to him incurring Their Lordships' displeasure. He was reverted to sea service at his substantive rank of Lieutenant-Commander.

He quit Calshot on 12 January, 1916 and was appointed to Tiger as a Lieutenant-Commander, staying with her until 6 June. At the Battle of Jutland, Longmore was acting as the Officer of Turret in "A" turret.

He was appointed to President in command of Killingholme Air Station on 15 June, 1916 with the rank of Wing Commander.

Post War

He was granted a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force on 1 August, 1919.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/143. f. 621.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/50/25.
• The National Archives. ADM 273/31/9.
• The National Archives. ADM 272/2/43.

See Also

• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Theodore E. J. Bigg	Captain of H.M. T.B. 74 29 Sep, 1906 – 15 Jul, 1907	Succeeded by John P. Gibbs as Captain of H.M. T.B. 074
Preceded by Harold R. Thrupp as Captain of H.M. T.B. 076	Captain of H.M. T.B. 076 Apr, 1909 – 18 Oct, 1909	Succeeded by Francis H. Sandford
Preceded by Henry V. Hudson	Captain of H.M. T.B. 111 19 Oct, 1909 – 20 Nov, 1910	Succeeded by Roger L. Wiles
Preceded by Percy J. Helyar	Captain of H.M. T.B. 24 21 Nov, 1910 – 20 Feb, 1911	Succeeded by Thomas G. Carter
Preceded by ?	In Command, Calshot Air Station 15 Jan, 1914 – 12 Jan, 1916	Succeeded by Arthur W. Bigsworth
Preceded by ?	In Command, Killingholme Air Station 15 Jun, 1916 – 7 Sep, 1916	Succeeded by Charles R. Finch Noyes
Preceded by ?	In Command, Eastchurch Air Station 7 Sep, 1916 – 3 Feb, 1917	Succeeded by John M. Steel
Preceded by Sir Lionel G. Preston	Commandant of the Imperial Defence College 1937 – 1 Jan, 1939	Succeeded by Thomas H. Binney