Kenneth William Hayr | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1935-04-13)13 April 1935 Whangārei, New Zealand |
| Died | 2 June 2001(2001-06-02) (aged 66) Bromley, England |
| Allegiance | New Zealand United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal New Zealand Air Force (1954–57) Royal Air Force (1957–93) |
| Years of service | 1954–1993 |
| Rank | Air Marshal |
| Commands | British Forces Cyprus (1985–88) No. 11 Group (1982–85) RAF Binbrook (1974–76) No. 1 Squadron (1970–72) |
| Battles / wars | Falklands War Gulf War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Air Force Cross &Bar |
Air MarshalSir Kenneth William Hayr,KCB, KBE, AFC &Bar (13 April 1935 – 2 June 2001) was a seniorRoyal Air Force commander who wasDeputy Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Strike Command andDeputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Commitments).
Born inWhangārei, New Zealand, Hayr was educated atAuckland Grammar School.[1] He joined theRoyal New Zealand Air Force and was sent to the United Kingdom to attend theRAF College Cranwell, graduating in 1957.[2]
Hayr was Officer CommandingNo. 228 Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Coningsby during the introduction of the F4 Phantom and subsequent training of No. 6 and No. 54 Squadrons. He was then appointed Officer CommandingNo. 1 Squadron in 1970. The following year, he married Joyce Gardiner: they had three sons.[1] Hayr served as Station Commander atRAF Binbrook inLincolnshire in 1974.[2] He attended theRoyal College of Defence Studies, after which he took up the post of Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) in 1980.[2] During this period he was responsible for much of the planning of the RAF's part in the re-capture of theFalkland Islands.[1] In 1982, he was made Air Officer CommandingNo. 11 Group.[2]
Hayr became Commander,British Forces Cyprus and Administrator of theSovereign Base Areas in 1985.[2] Returning to Britain he was Deputy Air Officer Commanding-in-ChiefStrike Command from 1988 until being appointedDeputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Commitments) at theMinistry of Defence in 1989,[2] which in 1990 involved him leading the preparation forOperation Granby.
On retirement Hayr returned to New Zealand and took up the Chairmanship of the New Zealand Aviation Heritage Trust Board, but continued to split his time between the UK and New Zealand in order to continue his love for flying by performing displays in various vintage aircraft.[1] It was in such an aircraft, aDe Havilland Vampire, that he was killed during the 2001Biggin Hill air display.[1]
In 1996, theInspectorate of Flight Safety moved into new purpose-built accommodation atRAF Bentley Priory and the facility's new lecture theatre was named 'The Hayr Theatre' in honour of Hayr who was the first Inspector in 1976 (prior to that date the post had been that of Director). Following the closure of Bentley Priory his picture now hangs in the DARS Course Members Tea bar at RAF Northolt in memory of the Lecture theatre at RAF Bentley Priory.[citation needed]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Air Officer CommandingNo. 11 Group 1982–1985 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander British Forces Cyprus 1985–1988 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Deputy Commander-in-ChiefStrike Command 1988–1989 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Commitments) 1989–1992 | Succeeded by |