McKee, Andrew

Date of birth:: January 10th, 1902 (Oxford/Canterbury, New Zealand,)
Date of death:: December 8th, 1988
Service number:: 24042
Nationality:: New Zealander

Biography

Born in New Zealand and educated in Christchurch, he traveled to England in 1926 and joined the RAF in 1927. He recieved a permanent commission in 1936 and served in India and the Middle East, 1927-39. In 1940 he commanded No. 9 Squadron and then held various posts such as Officer Commanding, RAF Marham and Officer Commanding, RAF Downham Market.
Post war he was
- Commandant, Officer Advanced Training School (1947)
- Commandant, RAF Flying College (1949)
- AOC, No 21 Group (1951)
- SASO, HQ Bomber Command (1953).
- AOC in C, Transport Command (1955)
In retirement McKee was Deputy Chairman of the National Airways Corporation and a Director of Air New Zealand

Promotions:
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.
retired 13 Jun 1959

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Mentioned in Dispatches

Rank:: Squadron Leader
Awarded on:: June 26th, 1931

Air Force Cross (AFC)

Rank:: Squadron Leader
Awarded on:: June 8th, 1939

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: February 20th, 1940

Mentioned in Dispatches

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Wing Commander
Awarded on:: January 1st, 1941

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Group Captain
Awarded on:: June 26th, 1942

Citation:
"Since being awarded the DFC in February 1940, this officer has completed 15 sorties, culminating in an attack on Hamburg on the night of 17th April 1942. The excellent performance of the squadrons on his station can be largely attributed to Group Captain McKee's personal example, both in operations against the enemy and in his leadership and organisation 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."