Hector McGregor
Air Marshal Sir Hector Douglas McGregor, KCB, CBE, DSO (15 February 1910 – 11 April 1973) was a senior Royal Air Force commander.
Sir Hector McGregor | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 February 1910 Wairoa, New Zealand |
| Died | 11 April 1973 (aged 63) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1928–64 |
| Rank | Air Marshal |
| Commands held | Far East Air Force (1962–64) RAF Fighter Command (1959–62) No. 2 Group (1951–53) Air Headquarters Levant (1944–46) Tangmere Sector (1942–43) RAF Ballyhalbert (1941) No. 213 Squadron (1940) No. 33 Squadron (1938–40) |
| Battles/wars | Arab revolt in Palestine Second World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches (7) Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States) |
RAF career
Born in New Zealand and educated at Napier Boys' High School,[1] McGregor joined the Royal Air Force in 1928. He served as a pilot but in 1931 he attended the Aircraft Engineering Course and he subsequently undertook several engineering-related tours.[2] He served in World War II as Officer Commanding No. 33 Squadron at Heliopolis in Egypt and then at Lydda in Palestine where he earned the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership during policing duties.[1][3] He went on to be Officer Commanding No. 213 Squadron at RAF Biggin Hill in 1940, Station Commander at RAF Ballyhalbert in 1941 and then Senior Air Service Officer at No. 82 Group later the same year before being made Officer Commanding, Tangmere Sector in 1942.[2] He became Deputy Director, Operations, Intelligence and Plans at Headquarters Mediterranean Air Command in 1943 and Air Officer Commanding Air Headquarters Levant in 1944.[2]
After the War, he became Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group in 1951 before being appointed Director of Guided Missile Development at the Ministry of Supply in 1953.[2] He went on to be Assistant Controller, Aircraft at the Ministry of Supply in 1956, Chief of Staff (Air Defence) at Headquarters SHAPE in 1957 and Commander-in-Chief of Fighter Command in 1959.[2] His last appointment was as Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Air Force in 1962 before he retired in 1964.[2]
In retirement, McGregor became Chairman of the New Zealand News Consultative Board in 1964.[2]
References
- New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum Archived 21 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- A History of RAF Organisation – Air Marshal Sir Hector McGregor
- "No. 34683". The London Gazette. 15 September 1939. p. 6285.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Coleman |
Air Officer Commanding Air Headquarters Levant 1944–1946 |
Succeeded by Walter Dawson |
| Preceded by The Earl of Bandon |
Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group 1951–1953 |
Succeeded by John Hallings-Pott |
| Preceded by Sir Thomas Pike |
Commander-in-Chief Fighter Command 1959–1962 |
Succeeded by Sir Douglas Morris |
| Preceded by Sir Anthony Selway |
Commander-in-Chief Far East Air Force 1962–1964 |
Succeeded by Sir Peter Wykeham |