Born Dublin, Ireland, at the start of the First World War he was a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps and by 1916 he was a Flying Officer (Observer) with No 16 Squadron of the Army’s Royal Flying Corps. He rose to command No 4 Squadron and after the armistice he commanded No 7 Squadron and then No 12 Squadron. In 1925 he moved to command No 2 Squadron.

Saul was a keen sportsman playing rugby and hockey for the RAF and in 1928 and 1932 he was RAF Tennis Champion.

In 1933 Saul was appointed Officer Commanding No 203 Squadron operating out of Basra in Iraq.

During the Second World War Saul was the Air Officer Commanding No. 13 Group from 24 July 1939 to 16th December 1940. After this he want on to command No 12 Group and then from 1943 he was Air Officer Commanding Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean.

Saul retired from the RAF on 29th June 1944 and went on to serve as Chairman of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration’s mission in the Balkans then as Vice-Chairman of the International Transport Commission in Rome. After leaving Rome in 1951 he worked as the manager of the University of Toronto bookshop until he retired fully in 1959.

Air Vice-Marshal Richard E. Saul died on 30th November 1965 after being hit by a car two days earlier.

Awards and Honours

Distinguished Flying Cross – 1 January 1919

Chevalier of the Order of the Crown – 15 July 1919

Crois de Guerre with Palms (Belgium) – 15 July 1919

Mentioned in Despatches – 11 July 1940

Companion of the Order of the Bath – 17 March 1941