Gordon Steege
| Gordon Henry Steege | |
|---|---|
Flight Lieutenant Steege in North Africa, December 1940
|
|
| Born | 31 October 1917 Chatswood, New South Wales |
| Died | 1 September 2013 (aged 95) Palm Beach, New South Wales |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1937–46 1950–72 |
| Rank | Air Commodore |
| Unit |
No. 3 Squadron (1938–39, 1940–41) No. 11 Squadron (1939–40) |
| Commands held |
No. 450 Squadron (1941–42) No. 14 Mobile Fighter Sector (1943) No. 73 Wing (1943–44) No. 81 Wing (1944) No. 77 Squadron (1951) RAAF Base Canberra (1957–58) RAAF Base Amberley (1964–67) RAAF Base Butterworth (1967–70) |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Korean War |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross Mentioned in Despatches |
| Other work | Aerospace consultant |
World War II
Air Commodore Gordon Henry Steege, DSO, DFC (31 October 1917 – 1 September 2013) was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He became a fighter ace in World War II, credited with eight aerial victories. Joining the RAAF in July 1937, Steege first saw action with No. 3 Squadron in the Middle East, where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after shooting down three German aircraft in a single sortie. He rose to command No. 450 Squadron in the Desert Air Force, before being posted to the South West Pacific, where he led Nos. 73 and 81 Wings. He earned the Distinguished Service Order for his "outstanding leadership", and finished the war a temporary group captain.
Resigning his commission following the end of World War II, Steege rejoined the RAAF during the Korean War, and briefly took command of No. 77 Squadron late in 1951. Returning to Australia, he held senior administrative and training posts before taking charge of RAAF Base Canberra in 1957. In the 1960s he was appointed to various planning positions, followed by command of RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, and later RAAF Base Butterworth, Malaysia. Having been raised to air commodore, his final appointment before retiring in 1972 was on the staff of Headquarters Operational Command (now Air Command) at RAAF Base Glenbrook, New South Wales. He subsequently became an aeronautical consultant, and died in Sydney in 2013, aged 95.
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