John Roberts (Royal Navy officer)

For other people named John Roberts, see John Roberts (disambiguation).

Rear-Admiral John Oliver Roberts CB (born 4 April 1924) is a British former Royal Navy officer who served as Flag Officer, Naval Air Command.

Rear-Admiral John Roberts CB
Born	(1924-04-04) 4 April 1924 (age 101)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1941–1978
Rank	Rear-Admiral
Commands	803 Naval Air Squadron HMS St Bride's Bay HMS Galatea HMS Ark Royal Flag Officer Sea Training Chief of Staff Fleet Flag Officer, Naval Air Command
Battles / wars	Second World War
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath

Naval career

Educated at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Roberts joined the Royal Navy in 1941 at HMS St Vincent during the Second World War.^[1] He was given command of 803 Naval Air Squadron on board the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle in 1957 and of the frigate HMS St Bride's Bay in 1960.^[1] He went on to be commanding officer of the Leander Class frigate HMS Galatea in 1966 and commanding officer of the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal in 1971.^[1] After that he became Flag Officer Sea Training in 1972,^[2] Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief Fleet in 1974 and Flag Officer, Naval Air Command in 1976 before retiring in 1978.^[1]

Roberts was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1976 New Year Honours.^[3] He turned 100 on 4 April 2024.^[4]