- Born
- 15 February 1918
- Died
- 31 October 1953, aged 35
- Fate
- Served and survived
Biography
Wing Commander Kenneth Harvey Blair was a British fighter ace of the Battle of Britain who went on to a notable night-fighter career. Born in Stockport on 15 February 1918, he joined the RAF in 1937. He first saw action in France with No. 85 Squadron, winning the Distinguished Flying Cross for his successes there and being decorated by King George VI at Hornchurch in June 1940. Through the Battle of Britain he flew Hawker Hurricanes with No. 151 Squadron from Martlesham Heath, engaging Luftwaffe formations over the Channel and Thames Estuary. He later turned to night fighting, commanding No. 1453 (Turbinlite) Flight’s Havocs at Wittering, and by the end of the war was commanding No. 613 Squadron. Credited with at least eight enemy aircraft destroyed and holder of the DFC and Bar, he survived the war and died on 31 October 1953.
Photographs
ⓘ licence & credit
Daventry B J (Mr), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flight_Lieutenant_R_H_A_Lee_and_Flying_Officer_K_H_Blair,_after_being_decorated_by_King_George_VI_at_RAF_Hornchurch,_Essex,_27_June_1940._CH433.jpgView source & full licence →Timeline
- 15 February 1918 Born
-
31 October 1953
Died
aged 35
Service
- Flying Officer, No. 85 Squadron
- Flight Lieutenant, No. 151 Squadron
- Wing Commander, No. 613 Squadron (City of Manchester)
Awards
-
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar.