| Sir Peter Terry | |
|---|---|
| Born 18 October 1926 | |
 |
|
| Allegiance |  United
Kingdom |
| Service/branch |  Royal Air
Force |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
| Other work | Governor of Gibraltar |
Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter David George Terry GCB (b. 18 October 1926) is a retired senior Royal Air Force commander.
Terry joined the Royal Air Force in the ranks as an RAF Regiment aircraftmen 2nd class on 17 July 1946.[1] His potential for officer service was quickly recognized and Terry was commissioned as a pilot officer in the RAF Regiment on 29 May 1947.[2] Spending the next nine years as a junior officer in the RAF Regiment, Terry transferred to the General Duties Branch in April 1956.[3]
Terry took up the post of Vice Chief of the Air Staff on 25 March 1977.[4] On 30 April 1979, Terry was appointed Commander-in-Chief of RAF Germany. Following promotion to air chief marshal[5] he was appointed Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe at SHAPE on 9 April 1981. Terry remained as Deputy SACEUR until 16 July 1984 and he retired from the RAF several months later.[6]
Terry was Governor of Gibraltar from 19 November 1985 to December 1989[7]. During his tenure as Governor, Terry authorised the SAS to pursue IRA members as part of Operation Flavius.
On 18 September 1990 the IRA attempted to kill Terry at his Staffordshire home in revenge for his part in Operation Flavius. The attack took place at 9 pm at the Main Road house. The gunman opened fire through a window hitting him at least nine times and injuring his wife Betty, Lady Terry near the eye. The couple's daughter, Liz, was found suffering from shock. Terry's face had to be rebuilt as the shots shattered his face and two high-velocity bullets lodged a fraction of an inch from his brain.[8] The then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, said that she "was utterly appalled and deeply grieved" by the shooting.[9]
In 2006, Terry was installed as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.[10]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir David Evans |
Vice-Chief of
the Air Staff 1977–1979 |
Succeeded by Sir John Nicholls |
| Preceded by Sir John Stacey |
Commander-in-Chief RAF Germany 1979–1981 |
Succeeded by Sir Thomas Kennedy |
| Preceded by Sir Jack Harman |
Deputy Supreme
Allied Commander Europe With G Luther (to 1982), G Kießling (1982 to 84) and H J Mack (1984 onwards) 1981–1984 |
Succeeded by Sir Edward Burgess |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir David Williams |
Governor of
Gibraltar 1985–1989 |
Succeeded by Sir Derek Reffell |
|
|||||||||
   | IRA gun attack on ex Governor - Our Century 1976-2000 |
| | Governors of Gibraltar (1945 onwards) - GOVERNORS OF GIBRALTAR (1945 onwards) |
| | Remarks condemning IRA attack on Sir Peter Terry ("deeply grieved") - Remarks condemning IRA attack on Sir Peter Terry ("deeply grieved") | Margaret Thatcher Foundation |
| | Queen attends Order of the Bath - BBC NEWS | UK | Queen attends Order of the Bath |
|
|
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