Robin McNair Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Robin John McNair DFC and Bar
Robin McNair in RAF uniform 1942
Born	(1918-05-21)21 May 1918 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Died	18 May 1996(1996-05-18) (aged 77) Chichester, England, UK
Buried	Church Norton, England, UK
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1939–1945
Rank	Squadron Leader
Commands held	247 Squadron, 74 Squadron, 124 Wing
Battles/wars	Battle of Britain, Dieppe Raid, D-Day, Falaise pocket
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross x 2
Spouse(s)	Estelle (née Townsend); 7 children
Other work	Airline executive

Squadron Leader Robin John McNair (born May 21, 1918 – died May 18, 1996) was a brave Royal Air Force pilot during World War II. He was known for flying fighter planes. After the war, he had a long and successful career working for airlines like British Airways.

Robin McNair's War Service
Life After the War
- A Man of Strong Beliefs
Family Life
Later Years and Legacy
See also
Links

Robin McNair's War Service

In February 1939, just before World War II started, Robin McNair joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was chosen to train as a pilot. Six months later, he officially joined the RAF.

Fighting in the Battle of Britain

In 1940, during the Battle of Britain, McNair flew with two different fighter squadrons. He was part of No. 3 Squadron and then No. 249 Squadron. His squadron helped protect North-West England from enemy planes.

In March 1941, McNair shot down a German Heinkel 111 bomber over Liverpool. This was a very difficult and dangerous mission. It was so impressive that it was talked about in newspapers across the country.

Night Flights and Awards

During 1940, McNair often flew night missions to defend against German air raids, known as the Blitz. In 1941, he led attacks on enemy bases in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

In 1942, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). This award was for his bravery in defending England from air attacks. It also recognized his role in the 1942 Dieppe raid, where he flew Hawker Hurricanes with No. 87 Squadron.

He received a second DFC, called a "Bar," in September 1944. This was given to him by King George VI. It was for leading No. 247 Squadron during the 1944 Normandy invasion. His squadron flew powerful Hawker Typhoon planes, which were nicknamed "Tiffys."

Supporting D-Day and Beyond

After helping with the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, McNair's squadron moved to France. They flew missions to support the Allied armies as they advanced through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and into Germany.

Later that year, he took part in Operation Crossbow. This involved flying missions against German V-weapon sites. He was also a leader during a major attack by 124 Wing on the German Seventh Army. This attack happened at the Falaise Pocket in Normandy in 1944. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Normandy campaign.

Surviving Dangerous Missions

Robin McNair was a member of the Caterpillar Club. This club is for pilots who have had to use a parachute to escape from a damaged aircraft. He had to bail out of his plane twice during combat.

In 1942, while flying his Hurricane over Bristol at night, his parachute almost failed. It opened just before he hit the ground. In July 1944, his Typhoon fighter-bomber was hit by enemy fire. Even though it was badly damaged, he managed to glide it 15 miles across enemy territory. He landed it safely behind Allied lines.

Before the war ended, he became a Chief Flying Instructor. He then returned to combat. In 1945, he commanded No. 74 Squadron. This was one of the first RAF squadrons to fly the Gloster Meteor, which was the UK's first jet fighter. In total, McNair flew almost 300 missions. He was one of the few pilots from the Battle of Britain who continued fighting until the end of the war.

Life After the War

After World War II, Robin McNair began a career in civil aviation. He joined British European Airways (BEA). This company later merged with another airline to form British Airways (BA) in 1974.

He played an important role in rebuilding connections between Britain and Germany after the war. He also helped set up business links with countries that were recovering from the war.

From 1951 to 1956, he helped manage BEA's international companies. He worked closely with important people in Cyprus after it became independent. He also worked with Aristotle Onassis on deals for renting aircraft and planning flight routes in Europe. He became one of British Airways' main negotiators before he retired in 1979.

A Man of Strong Beliefs

Robin McNair was a very religious man. During the war, he always made sure a special service was held for enemy crew members who had died. After the war, he helped organize camps for people who had lost their homes.

After retiring in 1979, McNair worked with many church groups and charities. He also stayed in touch with his old school, Douai School.

Family Life

In 1940, Robin McNair married Estelle Townsend. They had seven children together. One of their children is the author and lawyer Duncan McNair.

Later Years and Legacy

Robin McNair passed away on May 18, 1996, just before his 78th birthday. He was buried near the sea at Church Norton in Selsey, West Sussex. He had flown many missions over the English Channel from this area before D-Day.

He was a supporter of SPUC, an organization that promotes the sanctity of life. They created the Robin McNair Prize in his memory. This prize is given annually to young people aged 14 to 18 who write essays about important life issues. He also started several charities and caring groups.

In 1998, a special blue plaque was put up in his honor on a new road in London, called McNair Road. Other places, like McNair Close in Selsey and McNair Court in Hove, are also named after him.

Robin McNair facts for kids

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