Fifth Sea Lord
The Fifth Sea Lord was formerly one of the Naval Lords and members of the Board of Admiralty that controlled the Royal Navy. The post's incumbent had responsibility for naval aviation.
History
In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were assigned to each of the 'Naval' Lords, who were described as 'Professional' Lords, leaving to the 'Civil' Lords the routine business of signing documents.During World War I it was one of four additional naval positions added to the Board of Admiralty to manage the Navy. The only officer to hold the title during the war was Commodore Godfrey Paine. Commodore Paine simultaneously held the title of Director of Naval Aviation. After the Air Force Bill received Royal Assent in November 1917 the Air Council was created on 3 January 1918 which included Paine.
The post of Fifth Sea Lord then lapsed until 1938 when the Admiralty regained responsibility for naval aviation: the post was reestablished and was the Chief of Naval Air Services, responsible for preparation and management of all of the Royal Navy's aircraft and air personnel.
From 1957 to 1965 the Fifth Sea Lord's post was held jointly with the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. The post was abolished in 1965.
In the 21st century the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff has a similar role.
List of Fifth Sea Lords
Fifth Sea Lords and Chief of Naval Air Service 1917–1918
Included:- Rear Admiral Sir Godfrey Paine 1917
Fifth Sea Lords 1938–1956
- Admiral Sir Alexander Ramsay 1938–1939
- Vice Admiral Sir Guy Royle 1939–1941
- Rear Admiral Sir Lumley Lyster 1941–1942
- Vice Admiral Sir Denis Boyd 1943–1945
- Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Troubridge 1945–1946
- Admiral Sir Philip Vian 1946–1948
- Vice Admiral Sir George Creasy 1948–1949
- Vice Admiral Sir Maurice Mansergh 1949–1951
- Vice Admiral Sir Edmund Anstice 1951–1954
- Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Bingley 1954–1956
Fifth Sea Lords and Deputy Chiefs of the Naval Staff 1957–1965
- Vice Admiral Sir Manley Power 1957–1959
- Admiral Sir Laurence Durlacher 1959–1962
- Vice Admiral Sir Peter Gretton 1962–1963
- Vice Admiral Sir Frank Hopkins 1963–1965
Admiralty departments and divisions under the Fifth Sea Lord
As of 1939
- Air Branch
- Air Materiel Department
- Department of the Director Aircraft Maintenance & Repair
- Department of Air Personnel
- Air Branch
- Naval Air Division
- Department of the Director Airfield & Carrier Requirements
- Department of the Director of Air Equipment
- Department of the Director Aircraft Maintenance & Repair
- Fleet Air Arm
- Naval Air Warfare Division
- Naval Air Organisation and Training Division
- Department of the Director of Air Equipment and Naval Photography
- Department of the Director Aircraft Maintenance & Repair
- Department of the Director Naval Aircraft Development and Production
- Office of the Adviser on Aircraft Accidents
- Fleet Air Arm
In fiction