Air Vice Marshal Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by 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 u ...

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

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

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 United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Early life

Andrew MacGregor was born in Glen Gyle,

Crieff Crieff (; gd, Craoibh, meaning "tree") is a Scottish market town in Perth and Kinross on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich, and the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins the A823 to Dunfermline. Crieff has become ...

, 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 Argyll (; archaically Argyle, in modern Gaelic, ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a historic county and registration county of western Scotland. Argyll is of ancient origin, and corresponds to most of the part of the ancient kingdom of ...

. He transferred to the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

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 Aircraft Manufacturing Company Limited (Airco) was an early British aircraft manufacturer. Established during 1912, it grew rapidly during the First World War, referring to itself as the largest aircraft company in the world by 1918. Air ...

pilot in No. 57 Squadron RFC until he was appointed a Flight Commander 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 commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

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 approaches to provide guidance and direction to assist commanders in their decisions. This aim is achieved by providing an assessment of data from a ...

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 The Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) was the major Allies of World War II, Allied air force command organization in the Mediterranean, Middle East and African theatres of World War II, Mediterranean theater from mid-December 1943 until the ...

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 served throughout the Second World War. It earned near-immortal fame during the Battle of Britai ...

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, MiD) 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 ...

: 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 contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

: 3 June 1932 * French

Legion d'Honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon B ...

: 1944 * Officer of the American

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

: 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 contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

: 9 June 1944 * Commander of the

Order of the Crown of Belgium The Order of the Crown (french: Ordre de la Couronne, nl, Kroonorde) is a national order of the Kingdom of Belgium. The Order is one of Belgium's highest honors. History The Order was established on October 15, 1897 by King Leopold II in his c ...

: 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 George I of Great Britain, George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate medieval ceremony for appointing a knight, which involved Bathing#Medieval ...

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

Promotions

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

: 1 April 1918 *

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

: 1 May 1918 * Flying Officer; 1 August 1919 (seniority from 1 April 1918) *

Flight Lieutenant Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in air forces that use the Royal Air Force (RAF) system of ranks, especially in Commonwealth countries. It has a NATO rank code of OF-2. Flight lieutenant is abbreviated as Flt Lt in the India ...

: 1 January 1924 *

Squadron Leader Squadron leader (Sqn Ldr in the RAF ; SQNLDR in the RAAF and RNZAF; formerly sometimes S/L in all services) is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also ...

: 1 December 1932 *

Wing Commander (rank) Wing commander (Wg Cdr in the RAF, the IAF, and the PAF, WGCDR in the RNZAF and RAAF, formerly sometimes W/C in all services) is a senior commissioned rank in the British Royal Air Force and air forces of many countries which have historical ...

: 1 July 1937 * Temporary

Group Captain Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force, where it originated, as well as the air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. It is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank i ...

: 1 June 1940 * Temporary Air Commodore: 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 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 People from Crieff 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 Scottish military personnel