Norman MacEwen

Air Vice Marshal Sir Norman Duckworth Kerr MacEwen, CB, CMG, DSO (8 November 1881 – 29 January 1953) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the first half of the 20th century.

Sir Norman MacEwen
Lieutenant Colonel MacEwen
Born(1881-11-08)8 November 1881
Died29 January 1953(1953-01-29) (aged 71)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Royal Air Force
Years of service1900–35
1939–40
RankAir Vice Marshal
Commands heldNo. 22 Group (1929–31, 1939–40)
No. 1 School of Technical Training (1931–35)
RAF Transjordan (1923–26)
Central Flying School (1920–22)
Battles/warsSecond Boer War
First World War
Second World War
AwardsKnight Bachelor
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Distinguished Service Order
Other workChairman of the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association

Army career

In 1901, following officer training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, MacEwen was commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. As a junior officer he saw service in South Africa in the early years of the 20th century. In August 1915 he was appointed as Aide-de-camp to the General Officer Commanding Southern Command. At some stage in either the second half of 1915 or the early months of 1916, MacEwan went on to take up duties in the Royal Flying Corps. He was promoted major in January 1916 and, following flying duties, on 16 August 1916 was he promoted to lieutenant colonel and appointed Deputy Assistant Director of Aeronautics. MacEwen spent the remainder of the First World War in staff and administrative appointments. On 1 April 1918, like other members of the Royal Flying Corps, MacEwen transferred to the RAF on its establishment.

RAF career

After the end of the First World War, MacEwen was posted out to Afghanistan. On 13 December 1918, he was a passenger on the first through flight from Great Britain to Egypt. MacEwen arrived in Cairo on 1 January 1919 from where he travelled on to Afghanistan. Later in 1919 he took up the post of Officer Commanding RAF India.

In 1920 MacEwen returned to Great Britain. He was first appointed Commandant of the Flying Instructors School and then Commandant of the Central Flying School. From 1923 to 1926 MacEwen occupied the post of Officer Commanding RAF Transjordan. In 1926 he was appointed Deputy Director of Training and in 1929 he was first promoted air commodore and then appointed as Air Officer Commanding (AOC) No. 22 Group. In 1931 MacEwen was posted to the double-hatted appointment of AOC RAF Halton and Commandant No. 1 School of Technical Training. On 1 January 1932 MacEwen was promoted to air vice marshal. He retired in 1935 at his own request. In 1939, with war looming, MacEwen was recalled to service. He served as AOC No. 22 Group once again, retiring for the second time in 1940. From 1941 to 1943 as a retired officer, MacEwen was a Regional Air Liaison Officer.

From 1936 to 1949, MacEwen was Chairman of the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association.

Norman MacEwen died on 29 January 1953.

References

Military offices
Preceded by
Charles Breese
Commandant of the Flying Instructors School
Post retitled Commandant of the Central Flying School on 26 April 1920

1920–1922
Succeeded by
Edward Masterman
Preceded by
Robert Gordon
Officer Commanding RAF Trans-Jordania
Post retitled Officer Commanding RAF Transjordan in 1925

1923–1926
Succeeded by
Unknown
Preceded by
Duncan Pitcher
Air Officer Commanding No. 22 Group
1929–1931
Succeeded by
Henry Brock
Preceded by
Ian Bonham-Carter
Commandant, No. 1 School of Technical Training
1931–1934
Succeeded by
John Tremayne Babington
Preceded by
Charles Blount
Air Officer Commanding No. 22 Group
1939–1940
Succeeded by
Charles Blount
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.