Sir Christopher Neil Foxley-Norris
© reserved; collection National Portrait Gallery, London
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Sir Christopher Neil Foxley-Norris
by Unknown artist
glossy bromide print, 1970s
8 1/4 in. x 6 in. (211 mm x 153 mm) image size
Bequeathed by David Dean, 1976
Photographs Collection
NPG x16280
Sitterback to top
- Sir Christopher Neil Foxley-Norris (1917-2003), Air Chief Marshal. Sitter in 3 portraits.
Events of 1970back to top
Current affairs
Edward 'Ted' Heath wins a surprise victory for the Conservative party at the general election, becoming Prime Minister. Opinion polls had predicted a comfortable Labour victory, but with a failing economy, the Tories snatched a narrow last minute majority.Art and science
Germaine Greer publishes The Female Eunuch, an influential feminist text arguing that women's sexuality and capacity for action are repressed by the family and their roles in society. Greer suggested that women should get to know their bodies and become empowered by their sexuality. The book was an international best seller.International
Four aircraft are hijacked by Palestinian terrorists. The planes were landed in Cairo, Jordan and London and the hijackers demanded the release of Political Prisoners in exchange for the hostages. Several prisoners were returned and three of the planes were blown up after most of the hostages were release.Four students are shot dead by national guardsmen during a protest against the Vietnam War in America.
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Geoff Simpson
06 July 2021, 19:41
Christopher Neil Foxley-Norris was born on March 16 1917 in Claughton, Birkenhead, Cheshire. His father was a solicitor. The Very Reverend William Foxley Norris (who did not hyphenate his surname), successively Dean of York and Westminster, was Christopher's grandfather.
After Winchester College, Christopher Foxley-Norris went up to Trinity College, Oxford. He joined the Oxford University Air Squadron. A career at the bar was envisaged but war intervened. Having completed his RAF training, Flying Officer Foxley-Norris served in France in 1940 as an army co-operation pilot.
With the casualties and exhaustion caused by the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain, some army co-operation pilots volunteered, or were told they were volunteering, for Fighter Command. Foxley-Norris was one of the recruits. Most of his service as one of "the Few" was flying Hurricanes with No 3 Squadron, based in Scotland. Foxley-Norris himself was keen to stress in later life that he was well away from the front line at this point but he still qualified for the "immediate" award of the 1939-1945 Star with Battle of Britain Clasp.
Soon after the official end of the Battle he moved south and joined No 615 Squadron. On February 26 1941 Foxley-Norris was shot down by German fighters and baled out of his burning Hurricane over Kent. On landing he was "arrested" by a farmer, armed with a pitchfork, convinced that he had captured a member of the Luftwaffe. The downed pilot was rescued by the police.
After spells as an instructor and ferry pilot, Foxley-Norris began to fly anti-shipping strikes. He was accused of a breach of security and acquitted at court martial. He served in the Middle East and in Canada.
At the beginning of 1945 Foxley-Norris was back in the UK and took command of No 143 Squadron flying Mosquitoes against German shipping, as part of the Banff Strike Wing, based in north east Scotland. He was awarded the DSO, his citation noting that:-
"This officer has a long and distinguished record of operational flying. He has completed numerous sorties on his third tour of duty, during which he has operated against a wide range of enemy targets … By his brilliant leadership, exceptional skill and determination, Wing Commander Foxley-Norris has contributed in good measure to the successes obtained."
Christopher Foxley-Norris received a permanent RAF commission. His post-war appointments included command of RAF stations, Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (General) and C-in-C 2nd Tactical Air Force in Germany. The top RAF post of Chief of the Air Staff eluded him and he retired as an Air Chief Marshal in 1974, his final appointment being Chief of Personnel and Logistics on the Defence Staff. He was appointed CB in 1966, KCB in 1969 and GCB in 1973.
Sir Christopher served as Chairman of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association of which only "the Few" could be full members. He was President of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, custodian of the National Memorial to the Few at Capel-le-Ferne, Kent. The Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall, on which are listed the names of Battle of Britain aircrew, stands at Capel-le-Ferne. He was also a great supporter of the Cheshire Homes, founded by his friend from university, Leonard (later Lord) Cheshire VC.
Sir Christopher died at his home at Northend Common, near Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire on September 28 2003.