by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 29 September 1949
NPG x168876
bromide print, 29 September 1949
NPG x168876
© National Portrait Gallery, London
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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Kenneth Malise St Clair Graeme
b: 30 Oct 1896 r: 1 Dec 1949 d: 24 Apr 1974
CB – 14 Jun 1945, MC - xx xxx xxxx, Bar – xx xx xxxx, MiD – 1 Jan 1941, A M I Mech E, AFRAeS.
(Army): - (T) 2Lt: 19 Nov 1914, (T) Lt (RFC): 1 Oct 1916, (T) Capt: 10 Jan 1917, (T) Lt (Dev Reg): 4 Jun 1917, Lt: 4 Dec 1918.
(RAF): - (T) Capt [Lt]: 1 Apr 1918, Flt Lt: 1 Aug 1919, Sqn Ldr: 1 Jul 1925, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1933, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1938, Act A/Cdre: 20 Nov 1940?, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jun 1941, Act AVM: 21 Aug 1942, A/Cdre (WS): 21 Aug 1943, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1946, (T) AVM: 1 Jan 1946, AVM: 1 Oct 1946.
Photo (left) - taken from his RAeC Certificate
Photo (right) -
© National Portrait Gallery, London
xx xxx xxxx: Cadet, OTC
19 Nov 1914: Officer, Devon Regiment.
xx xxx xxxx: Instructor Officer, Machine Gun Corps.
xx May 1916: U/T Pilot, RFC
20 Jul 1916: Appointed Flying Officer, RFC
20 Jul 1916: Transferred to the General List.
8 Aug 1916: Embarked for France
xx Aug 1916: Pilot, No 42 Sqn.
24-26 Oct 1916: To 7th HAG
11 Dec 1916: Pilot, No 41 Sqn.
10 Jan 1917: Flight Commander, No 41 Sqn
2 Ma 1917: Returned to Home Establishment
xx May 1917: Instructor, No ? Training Sqn.
xx xxx 1917: Flight Commander, No 84 Sqn.
22 Sep 1917: Re-embarked for France (with No 84 Sqn)
8-16 Nov 1917: Temporary duty at Aerial Ranges
11-16 Feb 1918: Attended Course of Instruction, ERS
3 Apr 1918: Admitted to No 24 General Hospital
6 Apr 1918: Returned to UK on HT 'Ville de Liege'
1 Aug 1919: Resigned his commission in the Devon Regiment on appointment to a Permanent Commission in the RAF.
1 Aug 1919: Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Captain.
xx xxx xxxx: Supernumerary?
8 Feb 1921: Restored to the Active List
8 Feb 1921: Flight Commander, No 208 Sqn.
xx xxx xxxx: Supernumerary?
5 Nov 1923: AI 2 (c), Directorate of Operations and Intelligence.
25 May 1926: Attended Senior Officers (Army) School, Sheerness.
16 Sep 1926: Attended Officers Engineering Course, Home Aircraft Depot.
20 Aug 1928: Engineering Officer/2 i/c, No 4 Apprentices Wing, No 1 School of Technical Training.
xx xxx xxxx: Supernumerary?
8 Oct 1929: Engineering Officer, Aircraft Depot, India.
12 Feb 1932: Officer Commanding, No 60 Sqn.
3 Feb 1933: Senior Equipment Staff Officer, HQ RAF India.
xx xxx xxxx: Supernumerary?
3 Feb 1935: Senior Engineering Officer, HQ Air Defence of Great Britain.
14 Jul 1936: Engineering Staff Officer, HQ Bomber Command.
xx xxx xxxx: Senior Engineering Officer, HQ Bomber Command.
24 Apr 1940: Transferred to the Technical Branch
20 Nov 1940: AOC, No 43 Group
10 Jan 1944: AOC No 24 (Training) Group.
5 Jan 1948: Director-General of Engineering.
He was awarded RAeC Certificate 3673 on 20 July 1916. During WW1, his score was three destroyed, four out of control and one shared out of control. He retired at his own request and was killed, along with his wife in a head-on collision in their car at Chalfont St Peter. The driver of the other car was a member of the USAF.
Recommendation for an unspecified award
This recommendation was made for an award (probably a CBE) which was not granted; others in document were honoured 1 January 1943. Award was sponsored by Ministry of Aircraft Production.
"LEASK, Kenneth Malise St. Clair Graham, A/C, MC - No.43 Group
This officer assumed command of No.43 Group in November 1940, and four years employment on engineer staff duties at Bomber Command. He is a very able commander, keen, clear thinking, and a good leader. Under his administration the repair and salvage functions of the group have been carried out with great efficiency."
(Source - Air 2/8909 )
This page was last updated on 30/01/23
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