Air Vice-Marshal Ron Dick Collection
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MS-494: Air Vice-Marshal Ron Dick Collection Collection Number: MS-494 Title: Air Vice-Marshal Ron Dick Collection Dates: 1938-2008 Creator: Dick, Ron, 1931-2008 Summary/Abstract: The Air Vice-Marshal Ron Dick Collection follows the life and career of Air Vice-Marshal Ronald Dick. He served in the Royal Air Force, which included two appointments to the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., first as Air Attaché and then as Defense Attaché. During and after his military career, he was a prolific writer and lecturer on the history of aviation and took any opportunity he could to fly. The materials in this collection include material concerning his military career, speeches, correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, and memorabilia. Quantity/Physical Description: 20 linear feet Language(s): English Repository: Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435-0001, (937) 775-2092. Restrictions on Access: Due to preservation concerns, original film and VHS tapes in Subseries VC cannot be played in the reading room. Patrons may have access to reference copies. Items without reference copies can be digitized at the request of a patron for the cost of creating a digital copy. Please provide us at least two weeks advance notice if you would like to request an audio or video reference copy. Call (937) 775-2092 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Use of digitized content is subject to conditions governing use. Restrictions on Use: Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder. Preferred Citation: [Description of item, Date, Box #, Folder #], MS-494, the Air Vice-Marshal Ron Dick Collection, Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio MS-494: Air Vice-Marshal Ron Dick Collection 1 Acquisition: The Air Vice-Marshal Ron Dick Collection was donated to Wright State University Special Collections and Archives by Pauline Dick in May 2012. Separated Material: The 16mm film reels are stored off-site in the Special Collections and Archives Records storage area in the Medical Science Building. Books in the collection were separated and cataloged for the Reading Room, and are searchable in the local catalog by using the terms “Ron Dick Collection.” Existence and Location of Copies: An access copy of the DVD “Ron Dick, A Celebration of a Life Well Lived” in Series I, is available at the archives’ reference desk by requesting E-Archives Access Copy of ms494_e0001. Publication Note: Dick, Ronald. Lancaster: RAF heavy bomber. Charlottesville, VA: Howell Press, 1996. Dick, Ronald. Spitfire: RAF fighter. Charlottesville, VA: Howell Press, 1997. Dick, Ronald. Messerschmitt Bf 109: Luftwaffe fighter. Charlottesville, VA: Howell Press, 1997. Dick, Ronald. American Eagles: a history of the United States Air Force: featuring the collection of the US Air Force Museum. Charlottesville, VA: Howell Press, 1997. Dick, Ronald. Reach and Power: the heritage of the United States Air Force in pictures and artifacts. Washington, DC: Air Force History and Museum Programs, 1997. Dick, Ronald. Hurricane: RAF fighter. Erin, Ont.: Boston Mills Press, 2000. Dick, Ronald. Aviation Century. Erin, Ont.: Boston Mills Press, 2003. Dick, Ronald. 50 Aircraft that Changed the World. Erin, Ont.: Boston Mills Press, 2007. Processed by: Finding aid written according to DACS standards by Victoria Blair, November 2014. Revised by John Armstrong, August 2017. Arrangement: The collection is arranged in nine series and three subseries: Series I: General Information, 1948-2008 Series II: Public Speaking and Writings, 1950-2007 Series III: Correspondence, 1950-2007 Series IV: Travels, 1953-2006 Series V: Military Career, 1942-2008 Series VI: Programs, 1946-2004 Series VII: Audio-Visual Materials, 1938-2005 Subseries VIIA: Slides, 1942-2000 Subseries VIIB: Photographs, 1938-2005 Subseries VIIC: Film, VHS, and Audiotapes, 1952-1994 Series VIII: Scrapbooks, 1944-1997 Series IX: Memorabilia, 1957-2004 MS-494: Air Vice-Marshal Ron Dick Collection 2 Biographical Note: Air Vice-Marshal Ronald Dick, who died at age 76, served in the RAF as a fighter pilot and a Vulcan bomber squadron commander before settling in the United States, where he launched a second career as a lecturer and writer on aviation history. Dick had the unusual experience of filling two senior appointments at the British Embassy in Washington. He was appointed air attaché in 1980, a post he held for two years. At the time of the Falklands War in 1982, he played a major role in negotiating support for British air operations. Then, after a brief period at the Ministry of Defense, he returned to Washington as an air Vice- Marshal in November 1984 in the roles of head of the British Defense Staff and defense attaché, remaining for another three years. During his second term at the embassy, he was deeply involved in discussions and negotiations on American-led initiatives on disarmament that eventually led to the end of the Cold War. Throughout his time in the United States Dick was able to pursue his interests in aviation history and flying vintage and classic aircraft. He and his family developed a great love for America, where he was immensely popular, and on his retirement from the RAF, they decided to settle near Washington. He was appointed a Smithsonian international fellow at the National Air and Space Museum and a visiting lecturer in air power history at the USAF Air University at Maxwell, Alabama. Ronald Dick was born on October 18, 1931 at Newcastle upon Tyne, but spent his boyhood in London. As a nine-year old, he saw the front of his house demolished by a German bomb and watched Hurricane fighters engaging Luftwaffe bombers. From that moment, he always wanted to be a fighter pilot. He was educated at Beckenham and Penge County Grammar School, and in 1949 was awarded a cadetship to the RAF College, Cranwell, where he trained as a pilot. Dick was commissioned in 1952 and soon established himself as an excellent fighter pilot. He flew Meteors with No 64 Squadron, becoming a member of its formation aerobatic team. His skill as a solo aerobatic pilot was recognized when, in 1955, he won the Clarkson trophy, awarded to the best aerobatic pilot at the Central Flying School. A year later he won the Wright Jubilee trophy, competed for annually by the RAF's flying instructors. After serving on the examining wing of the Central Flying School, Dick spent the next three years as a flying instructor with the USAF in Alabama. With the demise of so many RAF fighter squadrons following the Sandys defense review, Dick's flying career took a new turn in 1962 when he became the flight commander of No IX Squadron, operating the Vulcan nuclear bomber. MS-494: Air Vice-Marshal Ron Dick Collection 3 In 1970, he returned to command the squadron when it was based at Akrotiri, on Cyprus. During a visit to New Zealand, he flew at air shows, displaying the exceptional maneuverability and low-lying characteristics of the big bomber. Dick served as military assistant to the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe and in 1978 was appointed to command RAF Honington, the base for three Buccaneer squadrons. He flew the tactical bomber regularly and led detachments to the USAF "Red Flag" tactical training facility at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. In July 1980, he left for his first appointment in Washington. He retired from the RAF in 1988, when he was appointed CB. He had previously been awarded a Queen's Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air (1973). In 1987, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Dick's passion for flying never wavered, and he took every opportunity to fly, even when fulfilling ground appointments. In 1983 he piloted a restored B-17 Flying Fortress bomber from California across the United States and the Atlantic to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford. He also flew American fighters, including the P-40 Warhawk and the P-51 Mustang, and he continued to fly his Tiger Moth until shortly before his death. His extensive knowledge of aviation history was quickly recognized. He advised the makers of the film Memphis Belle, the story of a USAAF B-17 bomber crew in the Second World War. Working with the renowned aviation photographer Dan Patterson, he wrote several acclaimed books, including “American Eagles,” a history of the USAF and published to celebrate the service's 50th anniversary. In 2003, after nine years of research, Dick published “The Aviation Century,” the first of a five- volume history, which was completed in 2006. In addition to accounts of aircraft, pioneering flights and air combat, the work included 400 portraits and profiles of great personalities in aviation. He also wrote numerous books on British aircraft, including the Lancaster and the Hurricane. In 2005, Dick had the distinction of chairing the 44th annual enshrinement ceremony at the US National Aviation Hall of Fame, widely known as "America's Oscar Night of Aviation". He was in great demand as a lecturer on cruise liners, and for many years led Smithsonian military and aviation heritage tours to Britain and Europe. He was a vice-president of the Vulcan Crew Chiefs' Association. Dick was a tall, distinguished-looking and gently spoken man who laughed easily. His leadership style - based on a quiet authority, imposing presence, professional knowledge and caring attitude - was very effective and made him a popular and respected commander. In later life, to those who used his rank when they addressed him, he would respond: "Please, it's just Ron." MS-494: Air Vice-Marshal Ron Dick Collection 4 He was a keen and knowledgeable ornithologist and a supporter of wildlife conservation.