Biography of Air Chief Marshal Sir Anthony Bagnall GBE KCB FRAeS RAF (Ret'd) (1945 - )
Biography - Air Chief Marshal Sir Anthony Bagnall GCB KCB FRAeS RAF (Ret'd)
(1945 - )
Air
Chief Marshal Sir Anthony Bagnall GCB KCB FRAeS RAF (Retd)
(appointed May 2001 Retired in post July 2005)
Air
Chief Marshal Sir Anthony Bagnall was born in 1945. He joined the Royal
Air Force as a Cranwell Cadet in 1964, and after graduating as a pilot,
he completed several tours flying Lightning aircraft; first, as a squadron
pilot, then as a weapons instructor, and later, on promotion to squadron
leader in 1975, as a flight commander. He attended the Royal Air Force
Staff College Bracknell in 1978 and subsequently served on the air defence
staff at the Ministry of Defence.
Promoted to wing commander in 1980, he completed a tour as Wing Commander Air Defence at Headquarters Strike Command. In 1983, he returned to the front line when he assumed command of No 43 Squadron equipped with the Phantom FG1 aircraft. Thereafter, he completed a short tour in command of No 23 Squadron in the Falkland Islands before moving, on promotion to group captain, to the Ministry of Defence to become the Director of Air Staff Briefing and Co-ordination.
In December 1987 he returned to flying duties when he became the Station Commander of Royal Air Force Leuchars which, at that time, operated 2 squadrons of Phantom aircraft and the Phantom Operational Conversion Unit. He attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1990 before returning to the Ministry of Defence in 1991 as the Director of Air Force Staff Duties. Air Chief Marshal Bagnall became Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in 1992. Subsequently, he filled the post of Air Officer Commanding No 11 Group from July 1994 until April 1996. Between June 1996 and August 1998 he served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces Central Europe before being appointed Air Member for Personnel and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Personnel and Training Command. He assumed the post of Commander-in-Chief Strike Command in April 2000 before moving to the appointment of Vice Chief of Defence Staff in May 2001.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Anthony Bagnall is married to Pamela and they have 3 children. His interests include walking, golf and bridge. He retired from active service in the Royal Air Force in July 2005 after 41 years service.
In 2005 he became a member of the Court of the University of St Andrews.