Major Andrew Edward McKeever in the Great War

King of the Two-seaters

Major Andrew Edward McKeever DSO, MC & Bar the second highest ranking pilot in two-seater aircraft during the Great War. Son of William McKeever and Annabelle Mary Campbell ‘Bella’ McKeever (nee Henderson); younger brother of Lieutenant (Observer) James Campbell McKeever and older brother of Sapper Charles Moffat ‘Charlie’ McKeever 2161198.

Hawkeye

Nigel Cartwright: “The airman photographed here is the great Canadian two-seater ace Andrew Edward McKeever DSO MC & Bar. The Bristol F2 Fighter ‘ace of aces’ with the aid of his observers he claimed 31 victories whilst serving with No.11 Squadron RFC. His last 4 victories came on the 30th November 1917 whilst piloting Bristol F2b A7288. With his observer 2/Lt Leslie Archibald Powell they claimed 4 Albatros D.V shot down south of Cambrai.

During late January 1918 McKeever was taken out of service and sent home to help form the Canadian Air Force, he would see no further combat. Andrew McKeever would help organise No.1 Squadron CAF (originally No.81 Squadron RAF) and command it. The war came to an end before the squadron could be deployed to the Western Front. The low positions of the LMG 08’s in the cockpit gives away that this D.VII is powered by a Mercedes D.IIIa motor and not the brilliant BMW IIIa ‘altitude’ engine.”

Enlistment of Andrew Edward McKeever

Educated in Listowel and at Toronto’s Central Technical School, Andrew Edward ‘Hank’ McKeever worked as a teller until 1916. His elder brother James Campbell McKeever, joined the RFC (17.3.1917) as an observer after serving with the 58th Battalion, CEF in France.

In October 1915 A E McKeever enlisted as a private in a militia unit in Toronto, the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. Part-time militia service, which left him essentially a civilian, permitted him to apply for direct entry into the RFC, avoiding service in the trenches. McKeever remained in the Queen’s Own Rifles until November 1916, when he was accepted into the RFC. He sailed for England on the 25th of that month and, on 5 December, made a second lieutenant “on probation” (subject to qualifying as a pilot).

Bristol F.2b Fighter

McKeever’s first victories came less than a month after he joined No. 11 Squadron. On 26 June 1917 he shot down two Albatros D.Vs while flying with Second Lieutenant E. Oake as his observer. This followed by a three-kill day on 7 July, making him an ace.

The versatile Bristol Fighter a maneuverable, heavily armed two-seater biplane designed by Frank S. Barnwell. One of the most successful fighters of the war, it got off to a poor start during “Bloody April” when introduced to the Western Front by the inexperienced pilots and observers of 48 Squadron. In the mistaken belief that the aircraft was structurally weak, pilots instructed to avoid violent maneuvers during combat. Heeding this advice, the pilots of six B.F.2a fighters encountered Manfred von Richthofen and his flight of five Albatros D.IIIs near Douai.

In a fight that lasted almost 30 minutes, four of the Bristol Fighters were shot down. The fight with MvR’s Jasta 11 almost convinced the British to withdraw this aircraft from service.

Military Cross

“2nd Lt Andrew Edward McKeever, R.F.C., Spec. Res. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, particularly when on offensive patrol. He attacked eight enemy aircraft single-handed at close range, and by his splendid dash and determination destroyed one and drove five down completely out of control. He had previously shown exceptional fearlessness in attacking the enemy when in superior numbers, and in the space of three weeks he destroyed eight hostile machines, setting a very fine example to his squadron.”

McKeever awarded the Military Cross on 17 September 1917. The citation notes a day in which he single-handedly attacked eight enemy aircraft and the fact that he had downed eight aircraft in a period of three weeks. He steadily racked up more victories over the summer and autumn, scoring three-kill days on 5 August, 28 September and 31 October. His observers accounted for 11 kills with Second Lieutenant Leslie Powell picking up eight of them. McKeever’s squadron-mates nicknamed him “Hawkeye” for his ability to spot enemy aircraft. He was promoted to Captain in late October.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 17 September 1917 (30287/9578)

Bar to MC

“Lt. Andrew Edward McKeever, M.C., R.F.C., Spec. Res. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in aerial combats. He has recently destroyed five enemy aeroplanes and driven down six out of control. On one occasion he encountered five enemy scouts, and drove down two out of control. Later, while leading a patrol, he engaged nine enemy scouts. He destroyed two, drove down one out of control, and dispersed the remainder. His dash and determination have been a fine example to his squadron.”

Supplement to the London Gazette, 18 March 1918 (30583/3418)

20 July 1917

On 20 July 1917 while flying, McKeever hit in the goggles by shrapnel causing a concussion and injuring his left eye. Given three months to recover, he was back in action less than three weeks later, with three scores over Queant on 5 August 1917. Somehow, McKeever would remain in the air for the next three months, scoring another 23 kills before his condition is recognized (he had perfect vision in 1916). At his medical at Witley Camp in August of 1919, visual acuity in his right eye 6/12, and only 6/36 in his injured left eye.

30 November 1917

His last aerial combat of the war occurred just before noon on 30 November 1917. On that day, he and his observer, L. A. Powell, engaged two enemy two-seaters protected by a flight of seven Albatros D.Vs. During the battle that followed, McKeever and Powell shot down four of the scouts, raising his total to 31 (10th place among Canadian airmen).

Behind German Lines

The morning of 30 November 1917, McKeever and Powell volunteered for a reconnaissance mission 60 miles from their aerodrome that would take them six miles behind German lines. They took off in a pouring rain with low cloud cover. The sky cleared enough near McKeever’s target that he was able to complete his observation mission. As he was turning for home, a large explosion caught his attention.

A German ammunition dump had exploded and, after flying closer, he could see large numbers of German soldiers trying to get the situation under control. He decided “that it would be a good stunt to fly around close to the ground and sprinkle a few belts of bullets” at them to take “all the heart out of the poor Hun”. As he turned to tell Powell of his next move McKeever noticed four German planes at about 100 yards from his right wing and five more behind him, effectively blocking his escape back to Allied lines.

Fight or Flight

McKeever made an instant decision to fight. He quickly turned his plane toward the closer group of four, nearly colliding with one while firing his machine gun at it. The German plane went down in flames and McKeever had a clear shot at the next Albatross D.V. Again he fired and the second enemy aircraft went down. At the same time, Powell unleashed his Lewis gun and put a third enemy plane out of action. This exchange of fire happened in no more than 90 seconds and there were three German airplanes falling to the ground simultaneously. The fourth plane of the group broke away and joined the original group of five.

The fight

Against all logic, McKeever did not try to escape but instead flew farther into German territory. He turned to face his pursuers and brought down another with a quick burst as he passed through their formation. Powell also accounted for his second kill of the day during this pass. McKeever looked back at Powell to see why had not continued firing his Lewis gun. The expression on Powell’s face told McKeever that Powell’s machine gun was out of action. McKeever turned his Bristol back toward the Germans only to find that his own machine gun was also inoperable. German fire came at the RFC plane from several directions. McKeever decided on a ruse; he flopped his aircraft onto its side and it dropped toward the ground, appearing that he been hit and was falling out of control. – The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum and Archive

The Germans fell for McKeever’s trick and they did not fire again or follow him down. McKeever recovered his aircraft about 20 feet from the ground and remained low, following a road and using trees as cover. Once he was confident that the Germans had left the area he turned for home, avoiding enemy ground fire as he passed over their positions. He arrived safely at his aerodrome with four more victories to his name. McKeever was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for this action. –

DSO

“2nd Lt. (T./Capt.) Andrew Edward McKeever, M.C., R.F.C., Spec. Res. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While on patrol by himself over the enemy’s lines in very bad weather he encountered two enemy two-seater machines and seven scouts. By skilful maneuvering he engaged one and destroyed it. As he turned to get back to the lines five of the enemy dived on his tail and his observer engaged and destroyed two of them. After an indecisive combat with two others, he attacked and destroyed one of the enemy which had overshot him. He continued the fight with the remainder until he was within twenty feet of the ground, when the enemy machines climbed and left him. He has recently destroyed ten enemy machines and has shown great courage and initiative.”

Supplement to the London Gazette, 5 July 1918 (30780/7887)

Lieutenant Leslie Powell MC & Bar

The son of Archibald George and Rosie Powell, Leslie Archibald Powell employed by the Western Daily Press in Bristol before he enlisted in the Gloucestershire Regiment. Having fought at Gallipoli, Cadet Powell promoted to temporary 2nd Lieutenant (on probation) on 5 August 1916. Awarded the MC in January of 11918, followed by the Bar in April for actions with McKeever. He died on 6 February 1961 in Sussex, England.

Lieutenant Howard Gowans Kent

Kent had previously served as Lieutenant for 8 months in the Kapuskasing Guard and at the time of enlistment he had served 13 months with the 10th Royal Grenadiers as a Lieutenant. He is a cousin of Lieutenant Chester McGregor Leishman (Permitted to resign his commission May 7, 1918) of the 123rd Battalion. Lieutenant Harry Gowans Kent died 10 February 1955 and buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Lieutenant Chester McGregor Leishman died on 21 May 1955.

Royal Canadian Air Force

McKeever Seconded to the Canadian Air Force on 22 January 1919. McKeever formed and commanded No. 1 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force.

McKeever’s elder brother admitted to hospital in March of 1919 with pneumonia, eventually making a good recovery.

Lt-Col Andrew Edward McKeever

McKeever ceased to be Seconded on 16 August 1919, when he embarked on SS BELGIC for Canada. SoS of the CEF in Ottawa on 6 September 1919. McKeever ended the war with the rank of lieutenant colonel. 

Death of Andrew Edward McKeever

McKeever had just been appointed general manager of the airfield at Mineola, N.Y., when, on 3 September 1919, he broke his leg in an automobile accident near Mitchell, Ont. The original Hazelhurst air field near Mineola, NY suffered the fate of the post-World War Two boom and sold to developers in the early 1950s, being plowed under for a shopping center.

McKeever’s broken leg improperly set in Stratford and he was subsequently taken to Toronto General Hospital, where it was reset on 22 December 1919. Complications developed and on Boxing Day he died of cerebral thrombosis at the age of 25. Survived by his parents, two sisters, and four brothers, he was buried at Listowel. 

Hank’s brother, now Captain James Campbell McKeever died of toxic goitre on 14 March 1921 at Vancouver Hospital. Also buried at Listowel (Fairview) Cemetery in the family plot. Husband of Rita Irene McKeever.

Younger brother Sapper Charlie McKeever who had served with the 7th Canadian Railway Troops in France, died in London, Ontario on 30 September 1971 at 72 years of age.

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