Andrew McKee (RAF officer)

Sir Andrew McKee
Born	10 January 1902 Oxford, New Zealand
Died	8 December 1988
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1927 – 1959
Rank	Air Marshal
Commands held	No. 9 Squadron RAF Marham No. 205 Group No. 21 Group RAF Transport Command
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross Air Force Cross

Air Marshal Sir Andrew McKee KCB CBE DSO DFC AFC (10 January 1902 – 8 December 1988) was a Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Transport Command.

RAF career

McKee joined the Royal Air Force in 1927.^[1] He served in pilot roles in India and the UK before joining the Air Staff at Headquarters No. 3 Group in 1938.^[1] He served in World War II as Officer Commanding No. 9 Squadron and then as Station Commander at RAF Marham before becoming Air Officer Commanding No. 205 Group in April 1945.^[1]

After the War he was appointed Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Middle East Air Force and was then made Commandant of the Officer Advanced Training School in 1947.^[1] He went on to be Commandant of the RAF Flying College in 1949, Air Officer Commanding No. 21 Group in 1951 and Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters RAF Bomber Command in 1953.^[1] His final post was as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Transport Command in 1955 during which period he saw the introduction of the Comet 2^[2] before he retired in 1959.^[1]

In retirement he was Deputy Chairman of the National Airways Corporation and a Director of Air New Zealand.^[3]

References

1. Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Marshal Sir Andrew McKee
2. Transport Command Flight International, 28 June 1957
3. An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand 1966