Background
Terry, Peter was born on October 18, 1926 in England.
Gibraltar governor and commander-in-chief
Terry, Peter was born on October 18, 1926 in England.
Student, Chatham House School, Ramsgate, England.
Terry joined the Royal Air Force in the ranks as an RAF Regiment aircraftman 2nd class on 17 July 1946. His potential for officer service was quickly recognized and Terry was commissioned as a pilot officer in the RAF Regiment on 29 May 1947. Spending the next nine years as a junior officer in the RAF Regiment, Terry transferred to the General Duties Branch in April 1956.
During the later 1950s and 1960s Terry worked his way up the officer ranks. As a group captain, Terry was station commander of RAF El Adem, Libya, from 1969–1970. He was there in September 1969 when Colonel Gaddafi overthrew King Idris of Libya in a coup.
Terry oversaw withdrawal of British troops from El Adem and Tobruk in March 1970. On returning to the United Kingdom, Terry took up the post of Vice-Chief of the Air Staff on 25 March 1977. On 30 April 1979, Terry was appointed Commander-in-Chief of RAF Germany.
Following promotion to air chief marshal 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. Terry was from 19 November 1985 to December 1989
During his tenure as Governor, Terry authorised the SAS to pursue Provisional IRA members as part of Operation Flavius.
On 18 September 1990 the Provisional Irish Republican Army attempted to kill Terry at his home in Main Road, Milford, Staffordshire. The attack took place at 9 pm, while Terry was sitting reading. The shooter(s) opened fire through a window hitting him at least nine times.
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. The then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, said that she "was utterly appalled and deeply grieved" by the shooting.
Member of Royal Air Force.
Son of James George and Laura Chilton Powell T. Medical Betty Martha Louisa Thomspson, 1946. 2 sons (1 deceased), 1 daughter.