Born and educated in Canada, Evans was
commissioned into the
Royal Air Force as a
pilot officer under an emergency commission on 7 April 1944 during the
Second World War. He underwent pilot training in Canada and he then completed operational training in
Ismaïlia in Egypt. On 7 October 1944, he was promoted to
flying officer (war substantive). Evans was one of the first RAF officers to enter
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. He was promoted to
flight lieutenant (war substantive) on 7 April 1946. His promotion to flying officer was confirmed on 30 September 1947 with seniority from 7 April 1946. Evans was promoted to the substantive rank of flight lieutenant on 29 October 1948, with promotions to squadron leader on 1 October 1954, to wing commander on 1 July 1959 and to group captain on 1 July 1964. He piloted the British
bobsleigh team at the 1964 Olympics. and he went on to be
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Strike Command the following year. He was
Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff from 1981 to 1983. ==Later life==