Sir Michael James Beetham was born on May 17, 1923, and died on October 24, 2015.

Sir Michael was a World War II bomber pilot and a high-ranking commander in the Royal Air Force from the 1960s to the 1980s.

As Chief of the Air Staff during the Falklands War, he was involved in the decision to send the Task Force to the South Atlantic.

At the time of his death, Sir Michael was one of only six people holding his service’s most senior rank and, excluding Prince Philip’s honorary rank, and had the longest time in rank, making him the senior Marshal of the Royal Air Force.

The son of Major G. C. Beetham MC, Sir Michael was born in London on 17 May 1923.

He was educated at St Marylebone Grammar School.

In 1956 he married Patricia Elizabeth Lane; they have one son and one daughter.

Sir Michael died at age 92 in October 2015.