David Niven (RAF officer)

David Niven (1910-1983) was a British actor and author, best known for his roles in films such as Around the World in Eighty Days, Separate Tables (for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor), and The Pink Panther. Beyond his acting career, he served in the British Army during World War II and later, briefly, in the Royal Air Force (RAF).

While Niven's primary military service was with the British Army (specifically the Highland Light Infantry and later with the Phantom reconnaissance unit), he did spend a short time as a pilot officer in the RAF Volunteer Reserve before the war. He joined the RAFVR in 1930 but resigned in 1933.

His time in the RAF, though brief, is noteworthy due to his subsequent fame. It provided him with some initial flying experience, which he later drew upon for film roles and which contributed to his image as a suave and adventurous figure. While he did not serve with the RAF during World War II, his earlier experience is part of his biography and often mentioned in accounts of his life. His application for reinstatement into the RAF at the outbreak of war was rejected due to medical reasons; hence his service in the Army.