Victor Groom

Victor Emmanuel Groom was born 4 August 1898 in Peckham, London, England. Groom was educated at Alleyn's School, Dulwich. He enlisted into the Artists Rifles, London Regiment, as a private in 1916 before being attached to the Royal Flying Corps in September. ==World War I==

Details of his training are unrecorded. However, Groom was appointed a flying officer on 30 January 1918 On 18 March, he was assigned to No. 20 Squadron as a Bristol F.2 Fighter pilot. On his first combat flight, his formation leader fired a Very flare that landed in the rear cockpit of Groom's Bristol. While the observer burned his hands smothering the fire that threatened to set off munitions, Groom safely landed. Having survived friendly fire, Groom began to triumph over enemy fire on 8 May 1918, when he began a string of eight victories that would take him through to 30 July. Groom's final tally was three enemy planes set afire, four otherwise destroyed, and one driven down out of control; his observer/gunner for all these victories was Ernest Hardcastle. Groom went on leave, was laid low by influenza, and did not return to combat in France. Instead, upon recovery, he was posted to No. 111 Squadron in Egypt. ==Between the World Wars==

On 1 August 1919, Groom was granted a permanent commission as a lieutenant. On 15 December, he switched to No. 14 Squadron in Palestine and on 22 May 1920, he continued Middle Eastern service with a new posting, to No. 55 Squadron. He was given command of No. 28 Squadron on 26 October 1932. He moved on to command of No. 58 Squadron, then on to staff work at Headquarters Bomber Command, even as he continued to ascend in rank. On 1 January 1938, having earned an OBE at Bomber Command, In 1924 He married Maisie Monica Maule (1909-1996); they had at least one son. ==World War II==

On 1 September 1940, he was promoted to temporary group captain and became Station Commander at RAF Marham. On 1 June 1943, he was bumped up to temporary air commodore and on 8 September 1943 he was promoted to acting air vice marshal on appointment as Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Second Tactical Air Force. In August 1945 he became Air Officer Administration at Headquarters Flying Training Command. ==Post World War II==

Groom became Director General of Manning for the RAF on 1 January 1947 and took command of No. 205 Group on 20 October 1949. and appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He took command of the Middle East Air Force in February 1952 and Technical Training Command in July 1952. ==Honours and awards==

• Distinguished Flying Cross – 2 November 1918 • Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross – 19 August 1921 • Officer of the Order of the British Empire – 11 July 1940 • Mentioned in dispatches – 1 January 1946 ==References==