Air Vice Marshal Francis Frederic Inglis, (22 June 1899 – 25 September 1969) was an officer in the Royal Air Force who became the head of RAF Intelligence Staff during the Second World War, reporting to Winston Churchill. In 1942 he was sent to America, where he successfully persuaded President Franklin D. Roosevelt to direct the main American war effort against Germany rather than Japan. Family and early life Inglis was the fourth child of Alfred Markham Inglis (1856–1919), a banker who had previously played cricket for Kent, and Ernestine (Nina) May Pigou (1863–1941). His grandparents were Major General Sir John Eardley Inglis and Lady Julia Inglis, who had survived the Siege of Lucknow, and Francis Pigou, the Dean of Bristol. His sister, Mildred Inglis (1897–1979), was married to Air Marshal Sir Victor Goddard (1897–1987) who was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Inglis was educated at Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and graduated in 1918, from where he was commissioned into the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. In the summer of 1927, he married Vera Helen "Midge" Turner (b. 1906). They had two daughters: Wendy Inglis (born 16 May 1928), who married Wing Commander Peter William Helmore D.F.C., A.F.C. (son of Air Commodore William Helmore) Diana Gillian "Jill" Inglis (born 15 June 1931), who married Jeremy Howard-Williams D.F.C., a former night fighter pilot His cousin, John Inglis was head of Naval Intelligence from 1954 to 1960. Royal Air Force career After graduating from Sandhurst, Inglis spent three years with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, reaching the rank of lieutenant, until July 1921, when he was seconded to the Royal Air Force as a flying officer. After 18 months at No. 5 Flying Training School, in December 1922 he joined No. 84 Squadron as a pilot, based in Iraq, flying DH.9As. In April 1925, he was on the staff of the RAF depot in Egypt, before joining No. 208 Squadron in January 1926. By now, Inglis had resigned his commission in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and had been appointed to a permanent commission in the rank of flying officer. On 1 July 1927, Inglis was promoted to flight lieutenant; he was immediately placed on half pay until the end of July, having recently got married. On his return to active service, Inglis joined the staff at No 4 Apprentice's Wing, RAF