Sir Peter Terry | |
---|---|
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Air Force |
Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
Other work | Governor of Gibraltar |
Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter David George Terry GCB (b. 18 October 1926) is a retired senior Royal Air Force commander.
Royal Air Force career
Terry joined the Royal Air Force in the ranks as an RAF Regiment aircraftmen 2nd class on 17 July 1946.[1] His potential for officer service was quickly recognized and Terry was commissioned as a pilot officer in the RAF Regiment on 29 May 1947.[2] Spending the next nine years as a junior officer in the RAF Regiment, Terry transferred to the General Duties Branch in April 1956.[3]
Terry took up the post of Vice Chief of the Air Staff on 25 March 1977.[4] On 30 April 1979, Terry was appointed Commander-in-Chief of RAF Germany. Following promotion to air chief marshal[5] he was appointed Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe at SHAPE on 9 April 1981. Terry remained as Deputy SACEUR until 16 July 1984 and he retired from the RAF several months later.[6]
Governor of Gibraltar
Terry was Governor of Gibraltar from 19 November 1985 to December 1989[7]
During his tenure as Governor, Terry authorised the SAS to pursue IRA members as part of Operation Flavius. On 18 September 1990 the IRA attempted to kill Terry at his Staffordshire home in retaliation. The attack took place at 9 pm at the Main Road house. The shooter(s) opened fire through a window hitting him at least nine times. His wife, Betty, Lady Terry, was also shot and injured, near her eye. The couple's daughter, Liz, was found suffering from shock. Terry's face had to be rebuilt as the shots shattered his face and two high-velocity bullets lodged a fraction of an inch from his brain.[8] The then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, said that she "was utterly appalled and deeply grieved" by the shooting.[9]
Honours
In 2006, Terry was installed as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.[10]
References
- ^ "No. 37758". The London Gazette (invalid
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(help)). 11 October 1946. - ^ "No. 38035". The London Gazette (invalid
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(help)). 1 August 1947. - ^ "No. 40998". The London Gazette (invalid
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(help)). 8 February 1957. - ^ http://www.rafweb.org/AirMin2A.htm
- ^ "No. 48547". The London Gazette (invalid
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(help)). 9 March 1981. - ^ "No. 49939". The London Gazette (invalid
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(help)). 26 November 1984. - ^ Michael Brufal. "Governors of Gibraltar (1945 onwards)". rockjottings.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
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(help) - ^ "IRA gun attack on ex Governor". westmidlands.com. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
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(help) - ^ "Remarks condemning IRA attack on Sir Peter Terry ("deeply grieved")". Margaret Thatcher Foundation. Retrieved 2007-05-10.
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(help) - ^ "Queen attends Order of the Bath". bbc.co.uk. 2006-05-17. Retrieved 2007-05-10.
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