# Kenneth Hayr > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kenneth_Hayr > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kenneth_Hayr.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Hayr > Source revision: 1352441493 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Royal Air Force Air Marshal (1935-2001) Air Marshal Sir Kenneth Hayr KCB KBE AFC & Bar 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 Branch Royal New Zealand Air Force (1954–57) Royal Air Force (1957–93) Service years 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) Conflicts 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 Marshal](/source/Air_Marshal) **Sir Kenneth William Hayr**, [KCB](/source/Knight_Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath), [KBE](/source/Knight_Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire), [AFC](/source/Air_Force_Cross_(United_Kingdom)) & [Bar](/source/Medal_bar) (13 April 1935 – 2 June 2001) was a senior [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force) commander who served as [Deputy Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Strike Command](/source/RAF_Strike_Command) and [Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Commitments)](/source/Deputy_Chief_of_the_Defence_Staff). ## Early life and flying career Born in [Whangārei](/source/Whang%C4%81rei), New Zealand, Hayr was educated at [Auckland Grammar School](/source/Auckland_Grammar_School).[1] He joined the [Royal New Zealand Air Force](/source/Royal_New_Zealand_Air_Force) and was sent to the United Kingdom to attend the [RAF College Cranwell](/source/RAF_College_Cranwell), graduating in 1957.[2] Hayr was Officer Commanding [No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit](/source/No._228_Operational_Conversion_Unit_RAF) at [RAF Coningsby](/source/RAF_Coningsby) during the introduction of the [McDonnell Douglas Phantom](/source/McDonnell_Douglas_Phantom_in_UK_service) and subsequent training of [No. 6](/source/No._6_Squadron_RAF) and [No. 54](/source/No._54_Squadron_RAF) Squadrons. He was then appointed Officer Commanding [No. 1 Squadron](/source/No._1_Squadron_RAF) in 1970. The following year, he married Joyce Gardiner: they had three sons.[1] Hayr served as Station Commander at [RAF Binbrook](/source/RAF_Binbrook) in [Lincolnshire](/source/Lincolnshire) in 1974.[2] He attended the [Royal College of Defence Studies](/source/Royal_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 the [Falkland Islands](/source/Falklands_War).[1] In 1982, he was made Air Officer Commanding [No. 11 Group](/source/No._11_Group_RAF).[2] Hayr became Commander, [British Forces Cyprus](/source/British_Forces_Cyprus) and Administrator of the [Sovereign Base Areas](/source/Akrotiri_and_Dhekelia) in 1985.[2] Returning to Britain he was Deputy Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief [Strike Command](/source/RAF_Strike_Command) from 1988 until being appointed [Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Commitments)](/source/Deputy_Chief_of_the_Defence_Staff) at the [Ministry of Defence](/source/Ministry_of_Defence_(United_Kingdom)) in 1989,[2] which in 1990 involved him leading the preparation for [Operation Granby](/source/Operation_Granby). ## Later life and legacy 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, a [De Havilland Vampire](/source/De_Havilland_Vampire), that he [was killed](/source/2001_Biggin_Hill_Airshow_disasters) during the 2001 [Biggin Hill](/source/Biggin_Hill) air display.[1] In 1996, the [Inspectorate](/source/Inspector_General) of Flight Safety moved into new purpose-built accommodation at [RAF Bentley Priory](/source/RAF_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](/source/RAF_Northolt) in memory of the Lecture theatre at RAF Bentley Priory.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tele_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tele_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-tele_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-tele_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-tele_1-4) [Obituary: Air Marshal Sir Kenneth Hayr](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1309623/Air-Marshal-Sir-Kenneth-Hayr.html) Daily Telegraph, 4 June 2001 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-air_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-air_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-air_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-air_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-air_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-air_2-5) [Air Marshal Sir Kenneth Hayr profile](http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Hayr.htm), rafweb.org; accessed 29 May 2016. Military offices Preceded by Peter Harding Air Officer Commanding No. 11 Group 1982–1985 Succeeded by Michael Stear Preceded by Sir Desmond Langley Commander British Forces Cyprus 1985–1988 Succeeded by John Friedberger Preceded by Sir Brendan Jackson Deputy Commander-in-Chief Strike Command 1988–1989 Succeeded by Sir John Kemball Preceded by Sir Antony Walker Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Commitments) 1989–1992 Succeeded by Sir Nicholas Hill-Norton --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kenneth Hayr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Hayr) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Hayr?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.