Robb, James, 1895-1968

James M. Robb was born on January 26, 1895 at Hexham, England. He was educated at George Watson's School and Durham University. He served in World War I with the Royal Flying Corps, and received a permanent commission with the Royal Air Force in 1919. He was stationed in Iraq from 1922 to 1925. He also spent five years with the Royal Navy, serving as an aviation officer. He returned to England in 1926 to the Central Flying School. In 1938 he went to Canada to plan the expansion of flying training; he returned to Canada at the outbreak of World War II to help found the Commonwealth Air Training Scheme. In 1942 he was appointed Deputy Chief of Combined Operations, under Lord Louis Mountbatten. In early 1943 he was appointed Deputy Commander of North African Air Forces, and was also in command of the Royal Air Force in that theatre. He was briefly appointed to the Headquarters' Staff, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, but was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff (Air) to General Dwight D. Eisenhower at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, 1944 to 1945. He was one of the Supreme Commander's representatives to receive the German surrender. He served as Vice Chief of Air Staff from 1947 to 1948, and Commander-in-Chief, Air Forces Western Europe, 1948 to 1951. He was appointed Inspector General of the Royal Air Force in 1951. He died on December 18, 1968.