Slessor was promoted air commodore on 1 September 1939,[REF] and was succeeded as Air Aide-de-Camp by Group Captain Ralph Cochrane [REF].
Appointed AOC Coastal Command with the acting rank of air marshal on 5 February 1943,[REF] Slessor had at his disposal sixty squadrons, two of which were equipped with B-24 Liberator heavy bombers [REF].