Air Vice Marshal Eric Bourne Coulter Betts (1897-1971) began his career in the Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War. He became flying ace credited with six aerial victories, although acedom was incidental to his more important mission of long range photographic reconnaissance, for which he was decorated. Later in the war, having been promoted to air vice-marshal, he was in charge of administration for Middle East Command. He retired in that rank postwar, on 10 March 1946. He died on 30 March 1971.