Norman MacEwen
Encyclopedia
Air Vice Marshal Sir Norman Duckworth Kerr MacEwen CB
, CMG
, DSO
, RAF
(8 November 1881 – 29 January 1953) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force
during the first half of the 20th century.
. 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.
. 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.
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...
, CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(8 November 1881 – 29 January 1953) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during the first half of the 20th century.
Army career
In 1901, following officer training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, MacEwen was commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland HighlandersArgyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
. 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
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
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
Royal 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...
. 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 AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. On 13 December 1918, he was a passenger on the first through flight from Great Britain to Egypt. MacEwen arrived in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
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
Central Flying School
The Central Flying School is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 it is the longest existing flying training school.-History:...
. 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
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
and then appointed as Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group...
(AOC) No. 22 Group
No. 22 Group RAF
Number 22 Group is one of only three groups currently active in the Royal Air Force, falling under the responsibility of Deputy Commander-in-Chief in Air Command. Its current full title is Number 22 Group and it is responsible for RAF training policy and controlling the Royal Air Force College...
. In 1931 MacEwen was posted to the double-hatted appointment of AOC RAF Halton
RAF Halton
RAF Halton is one of the largest Royal Air Force stations in the United Kingdom, located near the village of Halton near Wendover, Buckinghamshire.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Halton.-History:...
and Commandant No. 1 School of Technical Training
No. 1 School of Technical Training
No.1 School of Technical Training is the Royal Air Force's aircraft engineering school, based at RAF Halton from 1919 to 1993, as the Home of the Aircraft Apprentice scheme...
. 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
SSAFA Forces Help
SSAFA Forces Help is a British based charitable organization set up to help former and serving members of the United Kingdom British Armed Forces and their families or dependents...
.
Norman MacEwen died on 29 January 1953.