Air Marshal Sir Alan Lees, (23 May 1895 – 14 August 1973) was a

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...

officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief

RAF Reserve Command RAF Home Command was the Royal Air Force command that was responsible for the maintenance and training of reserve organisationsJohn D. Rawlings, 'The History of the Royal Air Force,' Temple Press Aerospace, Feltham, Middlesex, 1984, p.180 from f ...

RAF career

Educated at Wellington College and the

Royal Military College, Sandhurst The Royal Military College (RMC) was a United Kingdom, British military academy for training infantry and cavalry Officer (armed forces), officers of the British Army, British and British Indian Army, Indian Armies. It was founded in 1801 at Gre ...

, Lees was commissioned into the Royal West Kent Regiment in 1914 at the start of the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

.Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Marshal Sir Alan Lees
/ref> He became a pilot in 1915 and while serving on the Western Front was wounded and taken prisoner in 1917. After the War he transferred to the new

and in 1928 became

Officer Commanding The commanding officer (CO) or commander, or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually giv ...

No. 56 Squadron. He was appointed Officer Commanding No. 1 (Indian Wing) Station in 1932, Station Commander at

RAF Driffield Royal Air Force Driffield or RAF Driffield is a former Royal Air Force station in the East Riding of Yorkshire, in England. It lies about south-west of Driffield and north-west of Beverley. It is now operated by the Defence Infrastructure Or ...

in 1938 and then joined the staff at Headquarters

RAF Bomber Command RAF Bomber Command controlled the Royal Air Force's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. Along with the United States Army Air Forces, it played the central role in the Strategic bombing during World War II#Europe, strategic bombing of Germany in W ...

in 1939. He served in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

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. After the War he became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief

before retiring in 1949. In that role he introduced a tie and trophy1475 (Dulwich) Squadron strive and win!
Air Cadets London and South East Region for members of the

Air Training Corps The Air Training Corps (ATC) is a British Youth organisations in the United Kingdom, volunteer youth organisation; aligned to, and fostering the knowledge and learning of military values, primarily focusing on military aviation. Part of the ...

References

, - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Lees, Alan 1895 births 1973 deaths People educated at Wellington College, Berkshire Royal Air Force air marshals of World War II Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment officers Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst Grand Officers of the Order of Orange-Nassau British World War I prisoners of war World War I prisoners of war held by Germany British Army personnel of World War I Military personnel from Manchester