John Oliver Andrews
Encyclopedia
Air Vice Marshal John Oliver Andrews was an English flying ace
of World War I. He was credited with twelve aerial victories. His most significant victory was over German ace Stefan Kirmaier
, although he also enjoyed some success against Max Immelmann
and Manfred von Richthofen
. He continued his military career through World War II, rising into increasingly responsible staff position, then commanding two fighter groups during the war. His career was capped by his admission into the Order of the Bath
.
brewer's son. He attended Dame Alice Owen's School
from 1908–1911, followed by attendance at Manchester High School
from 1911–1912. He joined the Royal Scots Guards, being commissioned a second lieutenant on 9 October 1914.
. His first aerial service was as an observer/gunner; originally, he was seconded to No. 1 Squadron at Netheravon
on 4 November 1914. He was then reassigned to observe on the Avro 504
in No.5 Squadron in June 1915. He qualified as a pilot on 15 October 1915, earning Royal Aero Club
certificate number 1924 at Le Crotoy
, France; on the 21st, he was officially appointed a Flying Officer
(Observer). He was then assigned to the newly formed 24 Squadron as an Airco DH.2
pilot. On 16 December 1915, he was appointed a Flying Officer.
, holing his Fokker Eindekker in the process. A week later, Andrews was appointed a Flight Commander with a concomitant promotion to temporary Captain. He went on to score his initial victory on 21 July 1916, destroying a Fokker Eindekker over Allaines
. On that day, he led a patrol attacking a German formation of five Roland C.IIs and their five escorting Fokkers. His victim may have been 8-victory ace Leut. Otto Parschau
of FA 32.
Andrews then scored sporadically until he tallied his seventh win—and his last with 24 Squadron—on 22 November 1916 when he shot down German double ace Stefan Kirmaier
, Staffelführer
of Jasta 2
. The following day he was one of the combatants in the dogfight in which Manfred von Richthofen
downed his CO, Major Lanoe Hawker
. Andrews, the patrol leader, was unable to aid Hawker because Andrews' aircraft engine had been stopped by German bullets.
s. He brought down his eighth victim, an Albatros C two-seater, on 30 April 1917. By 11 July he had run his total to twelve. By now, he had destroyed eight enemy airplanes (including one shared with Lt. Robert Saundby
), driven down three others out of control, as well as killed Kirmaier and captured his Albatros D.II
.
On 1 July he had been promoted to Lieutenant. In the following month he was rested from combat and transferred to No.11 Training Squadron at Scampton aerodrome
as an instructor.
unit, No. 209 Squadron as temporary Major. In October he switched to command of No. 220 Squadron. On 20 December 1918 he switched command to No. 221 Squadron, being tasked to operate Airco DH.9
s in southern Russia.
in the Royal Air Force. After a further spell of foreign service in India he returned to Britain to begin attendance at Cambridge University on 1 September 1920.
Andrews' interwar years saw him also attending London University, the RAF Staff College
and the Imperial Defence College, as well as qualifying as a First Class German Interpreter. Interspersed with these educational stints were a variety of staff and technical assignments. Promotions came with his increased seniority and professional education. He rose to Squadron Leader
on 1 July 1924 and eight years later became a Wing Commander
. On 1 July 1937 he was promoted to Group Captain
.
on 1 September 1939 coincident with the beginning of World War II. In early 1940 he became the Director of Armament Development for the RAF. He was appointed an Acting Air Vice Marshal on 1 November 1940. On 18 November 1940 he was assigned as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operational Requirements and Tactics). He became a Temporary Air Vice Marshal on 10 January 1941. On 4 February, he was given command of No. 13 Group, Fighter Command. He was an Air Vice Marshal by April 1942. On 29 November 1942 he transferred to command of No. 12 Group. On 5 July 1943 he was transferred to Headquarters Flying Training Command.
Air Vice Marshal Andrews retired on 17 April 1945. He died on 29 May 1989.
2nd Lt. (temp. Capt.) John Oliver Andrews, R. Scots and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and skill. He is a fine leader of offensive patrols, and has himself shot down four enemy machines. On one occasion he got within 25 yards of an enemy machine under heavy fire and brought it down a wreck.
2nd Lt. (Temp Capt.) John Oliver Andrews, M.C., R. Scots and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry in action. He showed great courage and determination in leading successful patrols and attacks on hostile aircraft, and has now accounted for his ninth machine. On one occasion he followed a machine down to 800 feet, on another he went down to 500 feet.
2nd Lt. (temp. Capt.) John Oliver Andrews, M.C., R. Scots. & R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in leading offensive patrols with great dash and success on over thirty occasions, and taking part in over twenty-two combats. His skill and courage in attacking and destroying hostile aircraft have at all times been magnificent.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
of World War I. He was credited with twelve aerial victories. His most significant victory was over German ace Stefan Kirmaier
Stefan Kirmaier
Oberleutnant Stefan Kirmaier was a World War I flying ace credited with eleven aerial victories.Kirmaier began World War I as an infantryman. After transferring into aviation, he was posted to FAA 203 in 1915 and early 1916. He was then attached to KEK Jametz, and scored his first three victories...
, although he also enjoyed some success against Max Immelmann
Max Immelmann
Max Immelmann was the first German World War I flying ace. He was a great pioneer in fighter aviation and is often mistakenly credited with the first aerial victory using a synchronized gun...
and Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
. He continued his military career through World War II, rising into increasingly responsible staff position, then commanding two fighter groups during the war. His career was capped by his admission into the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
.
Early life and service
John Oliver Andrews was a ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
brewer's son. He attended Dame Alice Owen's School
Dame Alice Owen's School
Dame Alice Owen's School is a mixed voluntary aided secondary school in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, England, founded in the London Borough of Islington.-Admissions:...
from 1908–1911, followed by attendance at Manchester High School
Manchester Academy (Moss Side)
Manchester Academy is a non-selective co-educational secondary school within the English Academy programme, in Moss Side, Manchester.-Admissions:It is run by the United Learning Trust, a subsidiary of the United Church Schools Trust...
from 1911–1912. He joined the Royal Scots Guards, being commissioned a second lieutenant on 9 October 1914.
1914–1915
After service in the infantry, Andrews transferred to the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. His first aerial service was as an observer/gunner; originally, he was seconded to No. 1 Squadron at Netheravon
Netheravon
Netheravon is a village and civil parish on the River Avon, about north of the town of Amesbury in Wiltshire.-Notable people:The writer Frank Sawyer , although born in Bulford, spent most of his life in Netheravon as river keeper River Avon and died on the banks of the river near the parish church...
on 4 November 1914. He was then reassigned to observe on the Avro 504
Avro 504
The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during...
in No.5 Squadron in June 1915. He qualified as a pilot on 15 October 1915, earning Royal Aero Club
Royal Aero Club
The Royal Aero Club is the national co-ordinating body for Air Sport in the United Kingdom.The Aero Club was founded in 1901 by Frank Hedges Butler, his daughter Vera and the Hon Charles Rolls , partly inspired by the Aero Club of France...
certificate number 1924 at Le Crotoy
Le Crotoy
Le Crotoy is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France. The inhabitants are known as Crotellois-Geography:Le Crotoy is situated on the D143 and D71 crossroads, on the estuary of the river Somme, some northwest of Abbeville....
, France; on the 21st, he was officially appointed a Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
(Observer). He was then assigned to the newly formed 24 Squadron as an Airco DH.2
Airco DH.2
|-DH.2 aces:Distinguished pilots of the DH.2 included Victoria Cross winner Lanoe Hawker , who was the first commander of No 24 Squadron and ace Alan Wilkinson. The commander of No. 32 Squadron, Lionel Rees won the Victoria Cross flying the D.H.2 for single handedly attacking a formation of 10...
pilot. On 16 December 1915, he was appointed a Flying Officer.
1916
On 27 April 1916, during one of his earlier flights in a DH.2, he drove off German ace Max ImmelmannMax Immelmann
Max Immelmann was the first German World War I flying ace. He was a great pioneer in fighter aviation and is often mistakenly credited with the first aerial victory using a synchronized gun...
, holing his Fokker Eindekker in the process. A week later, Andrews was appointed a Flight Commander with a concomitant promotion to temporary Captain. He went on to score his initial victory on 21 July 1916, destroying a Fokker Eindekker over Allaines
Allaines
Allaines is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is on the D43 departmental road about northeast of Saint-Quentin.-Demography:-External links:* * *...
. On that day, he led a patrol attacking a German formation of five Roland C.IIs and their five escorting Fokkers. His victim may have been 8-victory ace Leut. Otto Parschau
Otto Parschau
Leutnant Otto Parschau was a German World War I Flying Ace and recipient of the Pour le Mérite, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, and Iron Cross, First Class. He was noted as one of the pre-eminent aces on the Fokker Eindecker...
of FA 32.
Andrews then scored sporadically until he tallied his seventh win—and his last with 24 Squadron—on 22 November 1916 when he shot down German double ace Stefan Kirmaier
Stefan Kirmaier
Oberleutnant Stefan Kirmaier was a World War I flying ace credited with eleven aerial victories.Kirmaier began World War I as an infantryman. After transferring into aviation, he was posted to FAA 203 in 1915 and early 1916. He was then attached to KEK Jametz, and scored his first three victories...
, Staffelführer
Staffelführer
Staffelführer was one of the first paramilitary ranks used by the German Schutzstaffel in the early years of that group’s existence...
of Jasta 2
Jasta 2
Jasta 2 was one of the best-known German Luftstreitkräfte Squadrons in World War I. It was founded by the great aerial tactician Oswald Boelcke, and was the incubator of several notable aviation careers.-Formation:...
. The following day he was one of the combatants in the dogfight in which Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
downed his CO, Major Lanoe Hawker
Lanoe Hawker
Lanoe George Hawker VC, DSO was a British flying ace, with seven credited victories, during the First World War. He was the first British flying ace, and the third pilot to receive the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded...
. Andrews, the patrol leader, was unable to aid Hawker because Andrews' aircraft engine had been stopped by German bullets.
1917
Andrews would not score again until after his transfer to No. 66 Squadron flying Sopwith PupSopwith Pup
The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...
s. He brought down his eighth victim, an Albatros C two-seater, on 30 April 1917. By 11 July he had run his total to twelve. By now, he had destroyed eight enemy airplanes (including one shared with Lt. Robert Saundby
Robert Saundby
Air Marshal Sir Robert Henry Magnus Spencer Saundby KCB, KBE, MC, DFC, AFC was an RAF officer whose career spanned both World War I and World War II...
), driven down three others out of control, as well as killed Kirmaier and captured his Albatros D.II
Albatros D.II
|-See also:...
.
On 1 July he had been promoted to Lieutenant. In the following month he was rested from combat and transferred to No.11 Training Squadron at Scampton aerodrome
RAF Scampton
Royal Air Force Station Scampton is a Royal Air Force station situated north of Lincoln in England, near the village of Scampton, on the site of an old First World War landing field.-First World War:...
as an instructor.
1918
In March 1918 Andrews returned to the front, assigned to No.70 Squadron as a Flight Commander. On 1 April 1918 the first day of the brand new Royal Air Force Andrews was promoted to Captain. On 7 May 1918 he became Officer Commanding of a Sopwith CamelSopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
unit, No. 209 Squadron as temporary Major. In October he switched to command of No. 220 Squadron. On 20 December 1918 he switched command to No. 221 Squadron, being tasked to operate Airco DH.9
Airco DH.9
The Airco DH.9 - also known after 1920 as the de Havilland DH.9 - was a British bomber used in the First World War...
s in southern Russia.
Service between the World Wars
Andrews led 221 Squadron in operations supporting the Russian White Army in their counter-revolution against the Bolsheviks in 1919. On 1 August 1919 he was granted a permanent commission as a Flight LieutenantFlight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
in the Royal Air Force. After a further spell of foreign service in India he returned to Britain to begin attendance at Cambridge University on 1 September 1920.
Andrews' interwar years saw him also attending London University, the RAF Staff College
RAF Staff College, Andover
The RAF Staff College at RAF Andover was the first Royal Air Force staff college to be established. Its role was the training of officers in the administrative, staff and policy apects of air force matters.-Foundation:...
and the Imperial Defence College, as well as qualifying as a First Class German Interpreter. Interspersed with these educational stints were a variety of staff and technical assignments. Promotions came with his increased seniority and professional education. He rose to Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
on 1 July 1924 and eight years later became a Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
. On 1 July 1937 he was promoted to Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
.
World War II and beyond
Andrews was promoted to Air CommodoreAir Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
on 1 September 1939 coincident with the beginning of World War II. In early 1940 he became the Director of Armament Development for the RAF. He was appointed an Acting Air Vice Marshal on 1 November 1940. On 18 November 1940 he was assigned as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operational Requirements and Tactics). He became a Temporary Air Vice Marshal on 10 January 1941. On 4 February, he was given command of No. 13 Group, Fighter Command. He was an Air Vice Marshal by April 1942. On 29 November 1942 he transferred to command of No. 12 Group. On 5 July 1943 he was transferred to Headquarters Flying Training Command.
Air Vice Marshal Andrews retired on 17 April 1945. He died on 29 May 1989.
Honors and awards
- Text of citation for Military Cross (MC) gazetted 20 October 1916
2nd Lt. (temp. Capt.) John Oliver Andrews, R. Scots and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and skill. He is a fine leader of offensive patrols, and has himself shot down four enemy machines. On one occasion he got within 25 yards of an enemy machine under heavy fire and brought it down a wreck.
- Text of citation for Military Cross (MC) Bar gazetted 11 December 1916
2nd Lt. (Temp Capt.) John Oliver Andrews, M.C., R. Scots and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry in action. He showed great courage and determination in leading successful patrols and attacks on hostile aircraft, and has now accounted for his ninth machine. On one occasion he followed a machine down to 800 feet, on another he went down to 500 feet.
- Text of citation for Distinguished Service Order (DSO) gazetted 26 July 1917
2nd Lt. (temp. Capt.) John Oliver Andrews, M.C., R. Scots. & R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in leading offensive patrols with great dash and success on over thirty occasions, and taking part in over twenty-two combats. His skill and courage in attacking and destroying hostile aircraft have at all times been magnificent.
- RUSI Essay Gold Medalist for 1932
- Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the BathOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, appointed 11 June 1942
Reference
- Guttman, Jon. Pusher Aces of World War 1. Osprey Publishing Co, 2009. ISBN 1846034175, 9781846034176.
- Shores, Christopher, etal. Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0948817194, 9780948817199.
- van Wyngarden, Greg. Early German Aces of World War I. Osprey Publishing Co, 2006. ISBN 1841769975, 9781841769974.