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Air Marshal Sir Andrew McKee (24042)


Andrew                        

b: 10 Jan 1902

r: 13 Jun 1959

d: 8 Dec 1988

KCB - 1 Jan 1957 (CB - 7 Jun 1951), CBE - 1 Jan 1944, DSO - 26 Jun 1942, DFC - 20 Feb 1940, AFC - 8 Jun 1939, MiD - 26 Jun 1931, MiD - 1 Jan 1941, MiD - 2 Jun 1943.

Plt Off (P): 4 Jan 1927, Plt Off: 4 Jan 1928, Fg Off: 4  Jul 1928, Flt Lt: 1 Feb 1932, Sqn Ldr: 1 Oct 1937, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Jun 1940, Act Gp Capt: xx xxx 19xx, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Sep 1942, Act A/Cdre: 24 Mar 1943, Gp Capt (WS): 24 Sep 1943, Wg Cdr: 1 Dec 1943, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1946, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1946, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1947, Act AVM: 6 Jul 1951, AVM: 1 Jan 1952, Act AM: 1 Dec 1956, AM: 1 Jan 1957.

 

 

15 Jan 1927:            U/T Pilot, No 4 FTS.

11 Feb 1928:           Staff, Aircraft Depot, India.

xx xxx xxxx:             Pilot, No 27 Sqn.

10 Nov 1930:          Staff, Aircraft Park, India.

 8 Nov 1932:           Flight Commander, No 99 Sqn.

 9 Nov 1932:           Supernumerary, RAF Depot.

23 Feb 1933 :          Pilot, No 58 Sqn.

 1 Jun 1936:            Granted Permanent Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

19 Nov 1936:          Adjutant, No 500 (County of Kent) Sqn AuxAF.

 8 Nov 1937:           Officer Commanding, 'B' Flight, No 99 Sqn.

28 Oct 1938:           Air Staff, HQ No 3 Group.

28 Sep 1939:           Flight Commander, No 99 Sqn

16 Jan 1940:            Supernumerary, No 9 Sqn.

17 Jan 1940:            Officer Commanding, No 9 Sqn.

31 Jul 1940:             Staff Officer, HQ No 3 (Bomber) Group.

xx xxx 1941:            Officer Commanding, RAF Marham.

xx xxx 1942:            Officer Commanding, RAF Downham Market

24 Mar 1943:           Base Commander, No 32 Base (Mildenhall) 

30 Apr 1945:           AOC, No 205 Group.

 1 Dec 1946:            SASO, HQ Middle East Air Force.

17 Dec 1947:           Commandant, Officer Advanced Training School. (RAF Hornchurch)

17 Jun 1949:            Commandant, RAF Flying College.

 6 Jul 1951:              AOC, No 21 Group.

19 Oct 1953:           SASO, HQ Bomber Command.

15 Oct 1955:           AOC in C, Transport Command.

Born in New Zealand and educated in Christchurch, he traveled to England in 1926 and joined the RAF in 1927.

In 1957 whilst AOC in C, Transport Command, he took part in a seven week tour of South America.  The tour visited a total of 14 countries and involved 72 flying hours covering 32,000 miles in the process.

Recommendation for the award of the Distinguished Service Order

McKEE, Andrew, G/C, DFC, AFC (24042, Royal Air Force) - RAF Station Marham - awarded as per London Gazette dated 26 June 1942.  This recommendation was drafted 2 May 1942 by the AOC, No.3 Group.  He was described as having flown 25 sorties (150 operational hours) of which 15 sorties (90 hours) had been since his previous award.

"Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in February 1940, this officer has completed 15 sorties, involving 90 hours flying, culminating in an attack on Hamburg on the night of 17th April 1942.  During April 1942, the two squadrons at his station achieved a record for the Group.  The Wellington squadron completed 170 successful sorties and the recently re-armed Stirling squadron achieved a total of 107.  These excellent performances can be largely attributed to Group Captain McKee's personal example, both in operations against the enemy and in his leadership and organization of his maintenance and crew training.  This officer does not allow his zeal for operations to interfere with his duties as an administrator, yet he undertakes sufficient operations to keep himself completely up to date.  He retains the absolute confidence of his captains and has played a large part in maintaining the high war effort of the group."

The above-mentioned officer has carried out no less than 56 hours operational flying  as a unit and station commander, the last of which was the raid on Hamburg on the night of April 17/18th.  All these operations have been undertaken since he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross as a Squadron Leader in January 1940.

During the month of April the two squadrons at his station have put up a record for this Group and one which I feel must be a record for the Command.  The Wellington squadron has carried out over 170 successful sorties, and the recently re-armed Stirling squadron has achieved a total of 107.

I consider that this satisfactory total is in a large measure due to this Station Commander’s personal example, both in operations against the enemy and in his leadership and organisation of his maintenance and crew training.  It is to be noted that the casualties in his squadrons were lower than those in any other squadron and I feel that this is directly attributable to his sound operational knowledge and his flair for instruction.

He does not allow his zeal for operations to in any way interfere with his duties as an administrator yet undertakes sufficient operations to keep himself up to date and retains the absolute confidence of all his captains.

I consider that he has personally done more to maintain the high war effort than any other officer in this Group and submit that his powers of leadership well merit recognition by his being made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order."

 (Source - Air 2/8755)

Citation for the award of Commander, Order of the British Empire

McKEE, Andrew, A/A/C, DSO, DFC, AFC (24042, Royal Air Force) - Base Mildenhall  - awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1944.

"This officer was posted to Mildenhall to organize and command a base containing four airfields housing operational units.  He devoted himself to the task with his customary intense enthusiasm and energy and brought the new organization to a very high pitch of operational efficiency in a remarkably short space of time.  He has performed fine service in maintaining the morale of his squadrons."

(Source - Air 2/895)

This page was last updated on 09/12/23

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