Lees, Ronald Beresford
- Date of birth:
- April 27th, 1910 (Broken Hill/New South Wales, Australia)
- Date of death:
- May 18th, 1991
- Service number:
- 29257
- Nationality:
- Australian (1901-present, Federal Monarchy)
Biography
Ronald Lees joined the RAAF in 1930. A year later, he accepted a short-service commission in the RAF which was extended.
Lees was Squadron Leader of 72 Squadron from late December 1938 until 22 July 1940. From early June 1940, the Spitfires of 72 Squadron flew patrols to cover the evacuation of Dunkirk where Lees shot down a Ju87. After a spell as Station Commandor of RAF Coltisall he was posted to the Middle East in November 1942, commanding 234 Wing in operations supporting Operation Torch in Tunisia. In June 1943, he was made a Commander of Order of the British Empire for his services; two months later he was appointed aide-de-camp (ADC) to King George VI; in October 1944 he was selected as acting Air Commodore with the Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force.
Besides decorations mentioned below he was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal and was made KCB in June 1961.
Promotions:
Pilot Officer: 18 March, 1931
Flying Officer: 13 October, 1931
Flight Lieutenant: 13 October, 1935
Squadron Leader: 1 October, 1938
Acting Wing Commander: xx xxx 1940
Temporary Wing Commander: 1 December, 1940
Acting Group Captain: xx xxx 1941?
Temporary Group Captain: 1 July, 1943
Acting Air Commodore: xx xxx 1944
Wing Commander: 1 October, 1946
Group Captain: 1 July, 1947
Acting Air Commodore: 8 September, 1952?
Air Commodore: 1 January, 1953
Acting Air Vice-Marshal: 1 September, 1953
Air Vice-Marshal: 1 July, 1955
Acting Air Marshal: 18 July, 1960
Air Marshal: 1 January, 1961
Retirement: 3 February, 1966
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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Acting Wing Commander
- Awarded on:
- October 22nd, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Wing Commander
- Awarded on:
- September 24th, 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Acting Group Captain
- Awarded on:
- December 26th, 1941
"Group Captain Lees is a tireless officer, possessing great energy. He has led the squadrons of his section in sweeps over France, has taken part in all sweeps at long distances out to sea and has set a magnificent example to younger offers by his courage and resource. He had only one desire - to get to close grips with the enemy."
Second DFC awarded as a bar for on the ribbon of the first DFC.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Acting Group Captain
- Awarded on:
- June 2nd, 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Group Captain
- Awarded on:
- June 8th, 1944
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Group Captain
- Awarded on:
- January 1st, 1945
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Acting Air Commodore
- Awarded on:
- January 1st, 1946
Legion of Merit - Commander (LoM - C)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Air Commodore
- Awarded on:
- January 1st, 1946
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- Photo 1: Tom MacNeill
- - The London Gazette Issue 34976 published on the 22 October 1940
- The London Gazette Issue 35010 published on the 10 December 1940
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35284 published on the 23 September 1941
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35392 published on the 23 December 1941
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36033 published on the 28 May 1943
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36092 published on the 13 July 1943
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36544 published on the 2 June 1944
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36866 published on the 29 December 1944
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37407 published on the 28 December 1945
- Ninth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37415 published on the 28 December 1945
- Air of Authority
- Australian War Memorial
Photo
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