Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Denis Frank Spotswood, (26 September 1916 – 11 November 2001) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force. He fought in the Second World War as a flying boat pilot and then as a coastal reconnaissance squadron commander during Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa. He served as a station commander in the late 1940s and early 1950s before becoming a senior air commander in the late 1950s. As the Chief of the Air Staff in the early 1970s he had a major role in implementing the defence savings demanded by the Heath Government in the face of economic difficulties at the time. RAF career The son of Frank Henry Spotswood and Maud Caroline Spotswood (née Booth), Spotswood was educated at Kingston Grammar School before joining the Evening Standard as a trainee journalist in 1932. He decided to change career and joined the Royal Air Force, being commissioned as an acting pilot officer on 14 April 1936 and, after completing flying training, he was confirmed in the appointment on 6 January 1937. He was posted to No. 220 Squadron flying Ansons from RAF Bircham Newton in 1936 in January 1937 and then transferred to No. 201 Squadron flying Southampton flying boats from RAF Calshot in October 1937 and then to No. 209 Squadron flying Singapore and Stranraer flying boats from RAF Invergordon in February 1938. Spotswood served in the Second World War, initially undertaking patrols of the Western Approaches using the new Lerwick flying boats and then the new Catalina flying boats of No. 209 Squadron. He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 3 September 1940, and mentioned in despatches on 24 September 1941. Promoted to the rank of squadron leader on a temporary basis on 1 December 1941, he became Officer Commanding No. 500 Squadron flying Hudson coastal reconnaissance aircraft from RAF St Eval in April 1942. Promoted to squadron leader on a war substantive basis on 18 July 1942, Spotswood and his squadron were deployed to Gibraltar in November 1942 to take part in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 10 November 1942. Spotswood joined the Air Staff in the Directorate of Operations at the Air Ministry in April 1943, before attending the RAF Staff College, Bulstrode Park for much of the remainder of the year. He was mentioned in