Ronald Lees


Sir Ronald Beresford Lees, was a senior Royal Air Force commander.

Early life

Lees was born at Broken Hill, New South Wales, the son of John Thomas Lees and Eliza Jane Moyle.
He was educated at Prince Alfred's College and St Peter's College, Adelaide and later read mathematics at Adelaide University.

RAF career

In January 1930 Lees joined the RAAF as a cadet at Point Cook, Victoria and in January 1931 took up a short-service commission in the RAF. He was made Officer Commanding No. 72 Squadron in 1938 and served in the Second World War taking part in the Battle of Britain in 1940. During the war he served as Station Commander at RAF Coltishall, as Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters No. 242 Group and then on the Sicily Invasion Force.
After the war he became Station Commander at RAF Bassingbourn. He was appointed Air Officer Commanding No. 83 Group in 1952, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in 1955 and Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters RAF Fighter Command in 1958. He went on to be Deputy Chief of the Air Staff in 1960 and Commander-in-Chief of RAF Germany and Second Tactical Air Force in 1963 before retiring in 1966.