Alan Christopher Deere
| Alan Deere | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Alan Deere by Cuthbert Orde, 1941
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| Birth name | Alan Christoper Deere |
| Nickname(s) | Al |
| Born |
12 December 1917 Auckland, New Zealand |
| Died | 21 September 1995 (aged 77) New Zealand |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1937—1977 |
| Rank | Air Commodore |
| Unit |
No. 74 Squadron RAF No. 54 Squadron RAF No. 602 Squadron RAF No. 611 Squadron RAF |
| Commands held |
No. 403 Squadron RCAF RAF Duxford RAF North Weald 12 (East Anglian) Sector, Fighter Command No. 1 School of Technical Training |
| Battles/wars |
World War II • Battle of France • Battle of Britain • Invasion of Normandy |
| Awards |
Officer of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Croix de Guerre (France) Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) |
| Other work | Author |
Air Commodore Alan Christopher "Al" Deere, OBE, DSO, DFC & Bar, (12 December 1917 – 21 September 1995), was a New Zealand Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain, and the author of Nine Lives.
Deere was born in Auckland, the third son of Terrence (known as Joe) and Teresa (née Curtin) Deere, while his father was employed in the Post Office. The family returned soon after Alan's birth to the family's home town of Westport, where Joe took up a position with the New Zealand Railways.
Deere attended St Canices School in Westport before the family moved to Wanganui where the family established a home at 43 Plymouth Street, which allowed Deere to grow up in a semi-rural environment while he attended Marist Brothers' School and Wanganui Technical College. At the age of eight he saw an aircraft fly overhead and sprinted to see it land on a nearby beach. The pilot allowed him to sit in the cockpit and Deere determined to become a pilot.
After a school career dominated by success in sports, representing his school in rugby, cricket and boxing, Deere spent two years as a law clerk. Encouraged by his family doctor to follow his chosen career, Deere persuaded his mother to sign the under 21 application for entry into the Royal Air Force. He passed selection under Wing Commander Ralph Cochrane in April 1937 and sailed for England on the Rangitane in September, but was admitted to hospital with high blood pressure.
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