Kenneth Hayr

Infobox Military Person
name= Kenneth William Hayr
lived= 13 April 1935 - 2 June 2001
placeofbirth=Auckland, New Zealand
placeofdeath=Bromley, Kent, England


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=New Zealand
United Kingdom
serviceyears= 1957–1993
rank= Air Marshal
branch= Royal Air Force
commands=
unit=
battles=
awards= Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Air Force Cross & Bar
laterwork=

Air Marshal Sir Kenneth William Hayr KCB, KBE, AFC & Bar (13 April, 1935 - 2 June, 2001) was a former Deputy Commanding-in-Chief Strike Command and Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Commitments).

Early Life and Flying Career

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Sir Kenneth was educated at Auckland Grammar School before joining the RNZAF and was sent to Britain to attend the RAF College Cranwell graduating 1957.

In 1974 he was the CO at RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire.

He attended the Royal College of Defence Studies, after which he took up the post of Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations). During this period he was responsible for much of the planning of the RAF's part in the re-capture of the Falkland Islands.

In 1985, he moved to Cyprus, where he assumed the post of Commander, British Forces Cyprus and as such he also held the appointment of The Administrator of the British Sovereign Base Areas.

Returning to Britain he was Deputy Deputy Commanding-in-Chief Strike Command until being appointed Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Commitments) at the Ministry of Defence.

Later Life and Death

On retirement he returned to New Zealand and took up the Chairmanship of the New Zealand Aviation Heritage Trust Board, but he continued to split his time between UK and New Zealand in order to continue his love for flying by performing displays in various vintage aircraft.

It was in such an aircraft, a De Havilland Vampire, that he was killed during the 2001 Biggin Hill air display.

Honours

In 1996, the Inspectorate of Flight Safe moved into new purpose-built accommodation at RAF Bentley Priory and the facility's new lecture theatre was named 'The Hayr Theatre' in honour of Sir Kenneth 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.

He was also awarded the following honours:

*1963 - Air Force Cross
*1972 - Bar to his Air Force Cross
*1976 - Commander of the British Empire
*1982 - Companion of the Order of Bath
*1988 - Knight Commander of the Order of Bath
*1991 - Knight Commander of the British Empire

References

* [http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Hayr.htm Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Marshal Sir Kenneth Hayr]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1309623/Air-Marshal-Sir-Kenneth-Hayr.html Telegraph.co.uk - Air Marshal Sir Kenneth Hayr]

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