Brendan Jackson facts for kids

Sir Brendan James Jackson was a very important officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF), which is the United Kingdom's air force. He was born on August 23, 1935, and passed away on November 19, 1998. He reached a very high rank called Air Chief Marshal. This means he was one of the top leaders in the RAF. He also served as the Deputy Commander of RAF Strike Command, a major part of the RAF that plans and carries out air operations.

Sir Brendan Jackson's Early Life and RAF Career

Brendan Jackson was born in London, England. He went to school at Chichester High School For Boys and later studied at the University of London. In 1956, he joined the Royal Air Force. This was part of a program called National Service, where young people served in the military for a period.

During his time as a young officer, something exciting happened. On March 20, 1963, he was flying a Victor B2 plane during a night training exercise. The plane became uncontrollable, but Sir Brendan was able to safely eject, meaning he used an emergency seat to escape the aircraft. This shows how skilled and brave he was. He also became a qualified interpreter, which means he could translate different languages.

Leading Important Teams in the RAF

Sir Brendan Jackson took on many important leadership roles in the RAF. In 1966, he became the Officer Commanding of No. 13 Squadron. This meant he was in charge of that specific group of airmen and planes. Later, in 1977, he became the Station Commander at RAF Marham, which is a large RAF base.

His career continued to advance. In 1979, he worked at the Ministry of Defence, helping to plan air strategies. Then, in 1984, he moved to SHAPE, which is a key military headquarters for NATO (a group of countries working together for defense). There, he was an Assistant Chief of Staff, helping with policy decisions.

In 1986, he became the Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of RAF Strike Command. This was a very significant role, as Strike Command is responsible for many of the RAF's main operations. Finally, in 1988, he became the Air Member for Supply and Organisation. This role meant he was in charge of making sure the RAF had all the equipment and supplies it needed. He retired from the RAF in 1993.

Family Life

In 1959, Sir Brendan Jackson married Shirley Norris. They had a son and a daughter together.