Alan Lees

Air Marshal Sir Alan Lees, KCB, CBE, DSO, AFC (23 May 1895 – 14 August 1973) was a Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Reserve Command.

Sir Alan Lees
The new Air Officer Commanding No. 222 Group, Air Vice Marshal Lees (left), is greeted upon arrival at Ratmalana, Ceylon, by his predecessor Air Vice Marshal John D'Albiac, 1942.
Born(1895-05-23)23 May 1895
Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire
Died14 August 1973(1973-08-14) (aged 78)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army (1914–18)
Royal Air Force (1918–49)
Years of service1914–49
RankAir Marshal
Commands heldReserve Command (1946–49)
No. 222 (General Reconnaissance) Group (1942–44)
No. 2 Group (1941–42)
RAF Driffield (1938–39)
No. 1 (Indian Wing) Station (1932–37)
No. 56 Squadron (1928–30)
Battles/warsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order
Air Force Cross
Mentioned in Despatches (5)
Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands)

RAF career

Educated at Wellington College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst,[1] Lees was commissioned into the Royal West Kent Regiment in 1914 at the start of the First World War.[2] He became a pilot in 1915 and while serving on the Western Front was wounded and taken prisoner in 1917.[2] After the War he transferred to the new Royal Air Force and in 1928 became Officer Commanding No. 56 Squadron.[2] He was appointed Officer Commanding No. 1 (Indian Wing) Station in 1932, Station Commander at RAF Driffield in 1938 and then joined the staff at Headquarters RAF Bomber Command in 1939.[2]

He served in the Second World War as Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group from 1941, Air Officer Commanding No. 222 (General Reconnaissance) Group from 1942 and Air Officer Administration at Headquarters Air Command South East Asia from 1944.[2] After the War he became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Reserve Command before retiring in 1949.[2] In that role he introduced a tie[3] and trophy[4] for members of the Air Training Corps.

References
  1. Bomber Command Commanders of World War II Archived 2011-05-14 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Marshal Sir Alan Lees
  3. Recognition Aid Flight International, 18 August 1949
  4. 1475 (Dulwich) Squadron strive and win! Archived 7 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Air Cadets London and South East Region
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