Career
After education at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, Macfadyen joined the Royal Air Force as a cadet in 1920. After a tour as Adjutant of the London University Air Squadron, he became Officer Commanding Number. 105 Squadron in May 1939 and served in World World War II in that role before joining the Planning Staff at Headquarters British Air Forces in France.
He continued his war service at the Directorate of War Organisation, at Headquarters Eastern Air Command and at Headquarters North-West African Air Forces before being made Director of Policy (Air Staff) at the Air Ministry in 1944.
After the War he became Commandant of the Officer’s Advanced Training School at Royal Air Force Digby and then at Royal Air Force Hornchurch. He was appointed Director of Plans at the Air Ministry in January 1949, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Policy) in August 1949 and Air Officer commanding British Forces Aden in 1952.
He went on to be Commandant of the Royal Air Force Staff College, Bracknell, in 1953 and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Royal Air Force Home Command in 1956 before retiring in 1959.
