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Air Commodore Sidney Wallingford, (12 July 1898 – 25 July 1978) was a British-born New Zealand aviator and military leader.

Born in Hythe, England, Wallingford's family moved to New Zealand in 1911. Working as a seaman after completing his schooling, he returned to England soon after the First World War began and joined the British Army. In 1918, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, soon to become the Royal Air Force (RAF) and flew with No. 142 Squadron in the final weeks of the war. He remained in the RAF until 1921 when he returned to New Zealand. He was a policeman in Fiji for a time before rejoining the RAF in 1924. He transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1929. During the early stages of the Second World War, he represented the RNZAF at the Air Ministry before returning in New Zealand and proceeding to the South Pacific. A liaison officer with the United States forces in 1942, he later commanded the RNZAF's No. 1 Islands Group, based in Vanuatu, and then the Northern Group. After the war, he held a series of staff posts. Appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1951, he retired from the RNZAF three years later. He died in 1978, aged 80.

Early life
Sidney Wallingford was born on 12 July 1898 in Hythe, in the county of Kent, England. His father, Jesse Wallingford, was an officer in the British Army but in 1911, transferred to the New Zealand Military Forces and the Wallingford family settled in Auckland. Wallingford was educated at Auckland Grammar School. On completing his schooling, Wallingford worked as a seaman on merchant ships.

First World War
In July 1916, Wallingford, by this time back in England, joined the British Army and was posted to the Artist Rifles Regiment. He subsequently served with the 4th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade in the Salonika campaign. In 1918, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, soon to become the Royal Air Force. His flying training completed, he served with No. 142 Squadron during the final stages of the Sinai-Palestinian campaign.

Interwar period
Wallingford initially held the rank of captain, the NZPAF using army ranks at the time he joined. In December, the service adopted the usage of RAF ranks, and Wallingford became a flight lieutenant.

On 12 September 1929 he married Kathleen Jamieson at St Mary's Cathedral in Auckland.

In 1938, Wallingford was appointed the RNZAF's air liaison officer at the Air Ministry in London. During his final months in the position, he was a co-author, along with Dr. Ernest Marsden, of a report for the New Zealand government on the use of radar for air defence.

Second World War
Returning to New Zealand in 1941, Wallingford was appointed the Member for Personnel on the Air Board. This implemented the air policies of the New Zealand government.

Later life
In the 1951 New Year Honours, Wallingford was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath. This recognition was unusual in that it was normally limited to RNZAF officers who had served as the Chief of Air Staff. Wallingford ended his career in the RNZAF in 1954, retiring with his wife to Rotorua. His final years were spent at Opito Bay, near Whitianga. He died there on 25 July 1978. A street in the Hobsonville Point community, in Auckland, is named for him.