Air Vice Marshal Air vice-marshal (Air Vce Mshl or AVM) is an air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many Commonwealth of Nations, countries which have historical British infl ...

Andrew MacGregor, (25 October 1897 – 24 October 1983) was a Scottish

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 ...

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviation, military aviator credited with shooting down a certain minimum number of enemy aircraft during aerial combat; the exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ...

credited with six aerial victories—including three scored with James Grant as his gunner—and a senior commander in the

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 ...

during 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 ...

Early life

Andrew MacGregor was born in Glen Gyle,

Crieff Crieff (; , meaning "tree") is a Scottish market town in Perth and Kinross on the A85 road between Perth, Scotland, Perth and Crianlarich, and the A822 road, A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy, Scotland, Aberfeldy. The A822 road, A822 joins ...

, Scotland on 25 October 1897.''Above The War Fronts: A Complete Record of the British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914-1918.'', p. 71.

Military service

First World War

Andrew MacGregor entered military service on 26 April 1917 as an officer in the

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) is a light infantry company (military unit), company (designated as Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland) and was a line infantry regiment of the British Army tha ...

. He transferred to the

Royal Flying Corps The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force. During the early part of the war, the RFC sup ...

Which would combine with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to become the Royal Air Force. on 30 November 1917. He served as an

Airco DH.4 The Airco DH.4 is a British two-seat biplane day bomber of the First World War. It was designed by Geoffrey de Havilland (hence "DH") for Airco, and was the first British two-seat light day-bomber capable of defending itself. It was desig ...

pilot in No. 57 Squadron RFC until he was appointed a

Flight Commander A flight commander is the leader of a constituent portion of an aerial squadron in aerial operations, often into combat. That constituent portion is known as a flight, and usually contains six or fewer aircraft, with three or four being a common ...

with a temporary rank of captain on 1 May 1918. From 31 July to 5 September 1918, MacGregor was credited with six aerial victories.

Between the world wars

MacGregor was released from duty on 23 May 1919. However, on 1 August 1919, he was given a commission in the

, although as a

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

instead of captain. He would serve as a pilot in Iraq, Kurdistan, and Egypt until 12 June 1924. On that date, he began staff duties as a

military intelligence Military intelligence is a military discipline that uses information collection and analysis List of intelligence gathering disciplines, approaches to provide guidance and direction to assist Commanding officer, commanders in decision making pr ...

officer at HQ Iraq. MacGregor began study at the Royal Air Force Staff College on 19 September 1927. After that, his career upwards began, as he rotated through increasingly responsible positions. On 1 September 1938, he was appointed Assistant Director, Deputy Directorate of War Organisation.

Service in Second World War

On 19 November 1940, MacGregor was posted as Senior Air Staff Officer to Headquarters, No. 4 Bomber Group. On 1 March 1943, he was assigned to North West African Air Forces. MacGregor moved to Air Staff, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces on 29 January 1944. Later that year, he moved to become assistant commandant of the RAF Staff College. He was appointed Air Officer Commanding of No. 28 Bomber Group on 23 February 1945.

Later life

MacGregor reported to Headquarters

Fighter Command RAF Fighter Command was one of the commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It operated throughout the Second World War, winning fame during the Battle of Britain in 1940. The ...

on 4 July 1946 for his final assignment. He retired from military service on 9 September 1949, having attained the rank of

. He returned to his native Crieff, living there until he died in the nearby

Perth Royal Infirmary Perth Royal Infirmary is a district hospital in Perth. The Royal Infirmary serves a population of around 182,000 across the City of Perth and the wider Perth and Kinross area. It is managed by NHS Tayside. History Perth Royal infirmary has it ...

on 24 October 1983.The Aerodrome websit

Retrieved 10 January 2018.

Awards and decorations

* Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom), Distinguished Flying Cross: 5 April 1919 *

Mentioned in Dispatches To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face of t ...

: 28 October 1921, 23 July 1937, 1 January 1943, 2 June 1943 *

Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

: 3 June 1932 * French

Legion d'Honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...

: 1944 * Officer of the American

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...

: 11 April 1944 * Commander of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

: 9 June 1944 * Commander of the Order of the Crown of Belgium: 25 June 1948 * Companion of the

Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by King George I of Great Britain, George I on 18 May 1725. Recipients of the Order are usually senior British Armed Forces, military officers or senior Civil Service ...

: 9 June 1949 * ''Croix de guerre''

Promotions

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

: 1 April 1918 *

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

: 1 May 1918 *

Flying Officer Flying officer (Fg Offr or F/O) is a junior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Flying officer is immediately ...

; 1 August 1919 (seniority from 1 April 1918) * Flight Lieutenant: 1 January 1924 *

Squadron Leader Squadron leader (Sqn Ldr or S/L) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Squadron leader is immediatel ...

: 1 December 1932 *

Wing Commander (rank) Wing commander (Wg Cdr or W/C) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Wing commander is immediately s ...

: 1 July 1937 * Temporary

Group Captain Group captain (Gp Capt or G/C) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many Commonwealth of Nations, countries that have historical British influence. Group cap ...

: 1 June 1940 * Temporary

Air Commodore Air commodore (Air Cdre or Air Cmde) is an air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes ...

: 1 June 1942 * Group Captain: 20 November 1942 (seniority from 1 April 1942) * Acting

: 4 July 1946 * Air Commodore: 1 October 1946 * Air Vice Marshal: 8 September 1949

Footnotes

Endnotes

Bibliography

* Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell; Alegi, Gregory (2008). ''Above The War Fronts: A Complete Record of the British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914-1918.'' Grub Street Publishing. , {{DEFAULTSORT:Macgregor, Andrew 1897 births 1983 deaths People from Crieff Military personnel from Perth and Kinross Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders officers British Army personnel of World War I British World War I flying aces Scottish flying aces Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Commanders of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) Companions of the Order of the Bath Officers of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) Royal Air Force air marshals Royal Air Force personnel of World War II Royal Flying Corps officers