Gordon Steege

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Gordon Steege
Air Commodore
UnitNo. 3 Squadron (1938–39, 1940–41)
No. 11 Squadron (1939–40)
School of Land/Air Warfare (1952–53)
Commands heldNo. 450 Squadron (1941–42)
No. 14 Mobile Fighter Sector (1943)
No. 73 Wing (1943–44)
No. 81 Wing (1944)
RAAF Station Schofields (1950–51)
No. 77 Squadron (1951)
RAAF Base Canberra (1957–58)
RAAF Base Amberley (1964–67)
RAAF Base Butterworth (1967–69)
RAAF Base Edinburgh (1969–70)
Battles/wars
Mention in Despatches
Other workAerospace consultant

Air Commodore Gordon Henry Steege, DSO, DFC (31 October 1917 – 1 September 2013) was a senior officer and pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He became a fighter ace in World War II, credited with eight aerial victories, and led combat formations at squadron and wing
level.

Born in Sydney, Steege joined the RAAF in July 1937. He first saw action in late 1940 with No. 3 (Army Cooperation) Squadron in the Middle East, where he flew Gloster Gladiator, Hawker Hurricane and P-40 Kittyhawk fighters. Achieving victories in all three types, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after shooting down three German aircraft during a single sortie in February 1941. He rose to command No. 450 Squadron in the Desert Air Force, before returning to Australia in December 1942. Posted to the South West Pacific, he commanded No. 14 Mobile Fighter Sector and, later, Nos. 73 and 81 (Fighter) Wings. He earned the Distinguished Service Order in April 1944 for his "outstanding leadership", and finished the war a group captain.

Steege resigned his commission after World War II, and worked for several years in New Guinea. He re-joined the RAAF during the Korean War and briefly commanded No. 77 Squadron in late 1951. Finding its Gloster Meteors to be outclassed by communist MiG 15s, he controversially took the RAAF squadron out of its air-to-air combat role in favour of escort duty and local air defence. 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 several planning positions, followed by command of, successively, RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland, RAAF Base Butterworth in Malaysia, and RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia. 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 ninety-five.

Early career

The son of William and Ida Steege, Gordon Henry Steege was born in the Sydney suburb of Chatswood on 31 October 1917, and educated at North Sydney Boys High School.[1][2] He recalled having always been interested in a military career, applying unsuccessfully to enter the Royal Australian Navy when he was twelve, and later the Royal Military College, Duntroon.[3] After leaving school he spent three years with the Perpetual Trustee Company, where he was a probate clerk.[3][4]

On 21 July 1937, Steege joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), undergoing flight instruction on Avro Cadets and Westland Wapitis at No. 1 Flying Training School in Point Cook, Victoria.[2][3] He graduated with a distinguished pass on 23 June 1938, and was commissioned a pilot officer.[2][5] His first posting was to No. 3 (Army Cooperation) Squadron at RAAF Station Richmond, New South Wales, flying Hawker Demon biplane fighters.[2][6] Steege and the squadron participated in several exercises with the Australian Army, undertaking reconnaissance, spotting for artillery, and practising ground-attack missions.[7] He was promoted to flying officer in December 1938.[2]

World War II

Following the

Qantas Empire Airways. Half of the squadron's personnel were Qantas employees.[1][8] On 25 September, No. 11 Squadron became the RAAF's first unit to be based in Papua New Guinea, when the flying boats, accompanied by Steege in a de Havilland Dragon Rapide, flew to Port Moresby to undertake maritime reconnaissance in the region.[9][10]

Middle East

Steege returned to No. 3 Squadron in May 1940, and was promoted to

Suez, Egypt, on 23 August.[11] The next month it was equipped with a flight of Westland Lysander reconnaissance aircraft and two flights of Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters, augmented by four Gloster Gauntlets for dive bombing.[1][12] Steege, a flight commander, was originally tasked with organising the Lysander contingent.[1][13] In coming months the Lysanders and Gauntlets would be withdrawn, enabling the squadron to operate as an all-Gladiator fighter unit.[14]

Ten men looking at a map on the tail unit of a Gladiator
Steege (centre, in cream sweater) and fellow No. 3 Squadron pilots with a Gladiator in Egypt, c. January 1941

On 2 November 1940, the two Gladiator flights moved forward to Gerawla, near Mersa Matruh.[12][15] Steege achieved his first aerial victory on 10 December. He was among a patrol of Gladiators that came upon a dozen Italian Fiat CR.42s that were strafing British troops near Tummar West; in the ensuing combat, Steege was credited with one of three CR.42s shot down without loss by the Australians, as well as a "probable".[13][16] Three days later he was on patrol with five other Gladiators that attacked a formation of Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 bombers near Sollum; Steege claimed one SM.79 destroyed and another probably destroyed.[13][17] An escort of eight CR.42s then attacked the Gladiators, forcing down five; only Steege, his aircraft damaged, was able to make it back to base.[17][18] He was credited with another CR.42 destroyed, and one damaged, north-east of Sollum Bay on 26 December, when his squadron attacked a formation of SM.79s escorted by over twenty CR.42s.[13][19]

No. 3 Squadron began re-equipping with Hawker Hurricanes on 29 January 1941.[20] On 10 February, the squadron advanced to RAF Station Benina, Libya, to take over the air defence of Benghazi, which had been occupied by the 6th Division.[21] German aircraft started appearing at this time, as the Afrika Korps under General Erwin Rommel, supported by a Luftwaffe contingent, arrived in North Africa to reinforce the Italians.[22][23] Steege was flying a Hurricane on 18 February when he shot down three German Junkers Ju 87 Stukas in a single sortie near Mersa Matruh to become his unit's second ace.[24][25] The Germans launched an offensive in March, and Benina was evacuated on 3 April.[22][23] That day, No. 3 Squadron, operating in concert with No. 73 Squadron RAF, surprised a formation of Ju 87s escorted by Messerschmitt Bf 110s; Steege led his section of four Hurricanes against the Bf 110s, and was credited with destroying one and damaging three others.[13][25] He was recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross for his "unfailing courage" and destruction of enemy aircraft; the award was promulgated in The London Gazette on 8 April.[26][27] Four days later, No. 3 Squadron re-located to Sidi Haneish, Egypt, having retreated five hundred miles (eight hundred kilometres) and operated from nine airfields in ten days.[28]

Well, the Italian Air Force in North Africa fought honourably and their fighter pilots had quite a bit of dash [...] But the Germans wouldn't dogfight. They'd come and go, go away again, come and go. So they always had the initiative...

Steege on his opponents in the Middle East[29]

Raised to the

El Adem, Libya, and began registering victories in February 1942.[33] Flying a Kittyhawk, Steege claimed a probable victory over a Messerschmitt Bf 109 near Martuba on 28 March; it was later confirmed as destroyed.[13][34] He was credited with damaging a Macchi MC.200 in the Tobruk area on 3 April.[13]

Steege handed over command of No. 450 Squadron on 7 May 1942, and subsequently attended the Middle East Staff School in

temporary rank of wing commander in October and returned to Australia in December.[2] His final tally of victories in the Middle Eastern theatre was eight aircraft destroyed, two probables and five damaged.[13][34]

South West Pacific

Steege undertook a fighter sector training course in January 1943, and in March was given command of No. 8 Fighter Sector Headquarters in Brisbane, a position he considered "a letdown" in light of his operational experience versus the sector's role in monitoring only transport flights.[2][29] As a result, he later contended, of his petitioning Eastern Area Command for reassignment to combat duties and complaining to Group Officer Clare Stevenson that there were too many WAAAFs in the sector for an unmarried man to supervise, he was posted to command No. 14 Mobile Fighter Sector Headquarters at Camden, New South Wales, on 23 May.[36][37] The following month, the unit deployed to Goodenough Island in New Guinea as part of No. 71 (Fighter) Wing, becoming operational on 27 June.[37] In August it moved to Kiriwina, under the aegis of No. 73 (Fighter) Wing.[37]

Kittyhawk fighters parked on a landing ground with palm trees in the background
P-40 Kittyhawks at Los Negros, 1944

On 1 October 1943, Steege relinquished command of No. 14 Mobile Fighter Sector to take charge of No. 73 Wing.[2][37] The wing's fighter units consisted of No. 76 Squadron, operating Kittyhawks, and No. 79 Squadron, operating Supermarine Spitfires.[38] They were joined in November by another Kittyhawk unit, No. 78 Squadron.[39] In preparation for the New Britain campaign, as part of the build-up to the assault on Arawe in December, the Kittyhawks launched a series of raids on Gasmata; three days before the Allied landings, Steege personally led a force of thirty-four aircraft in a bombing and strafing attack on the town's landing strip.[40] In January 1944, the wing took part in the two largest raids mounted by the RAAF to that time, each involving over seventy aircraft attacking enemy camps and depots at Lindenhafen, New Britain.[41] Steege was promoted to acting group captain the following month; the rank was made temporary in July.[2]

As part of the RAAF's contribution to the Admiralty Islands campaign, Steege led No. 73 Wing on garrison duty at Los Negros, commencing in March 1944. The wing's combat squadrons—Nos. 76, 77 (Kittyhawks) and 79—were supported by No. 49 Operational Base Unit, No. 114 Mobile Fighter Sector (formerly No. 14 Mobile Fighter Sector), No. 27 Air Stores Park and No. 26 Medical Clearing Station, among other ancillaries.[37][42] The fighters' main duty was providing cover for Allied shipping; they also carried out bomber escort, ground attack and anti-shipping missions.[42] In mid-April, the wing escorted the largest Allied convoy in the South West Pacific to that date, eighty ships carrying 30,000 personnel that had embarked from Finschhafen, on the final leg of its journey from the Admiralties to Aitape.[43] On 11 April, Steege was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his "outstanding leadership in aerial combat in New Guinea".[24][44]

Completing their garrison work in the Admiralties in August 1944, No. 73 Wing's Kittyhawk units were transferred to

West Papua, and dive bombed Japanese airfields on Halmahera.[47] Steege handed over command of the wing to Group Captain Wilf Arthur in December 1944.[48] In January 1945, Steege became senior air staff officer (SASO) at Eastern Area Command in Sydney. He was posted to RAAF Headquarters, Melbourne, in May.[2][24] From June to December, he attended the Army and Navy Staff College in Washington, D.C.[49]

Korean War and after

John McCauley
(left) and Group Captain A.G. Carr (right) in South Korea, November 1951

Steege married Joan Tait, daughter of Frank Tait, on 5 January 1946; the couple had a son in 1953.[49][50] Joan Tait had a daughter, born in 1939, from a previous marriage.[51] Steege was appointed the RAAF's director of operations in February.[49] In December he resigned from the RAAF, joining the New Guinea Administration as a patrol officer the next month. He re-joined the Air Force as a wing commander on the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950.[2][24] In July he accompanied Major General William Bridgeford's mission to Malaya.[52] Steege assumed command of RAAF Station Schofields, New South Wales, in September 1950, and commenced a jet training course at RAAF Station Williamtown early the next year.[2][24]

On 16 August 1951, Steege succeeded Squadron Leader

Kimpo, South Korea, shortly after it converted from P-51 Mustang piston-engined fighters to Gloster Meteor jets.[53] Steege had been posted to Japan in May and converted to Meteors at Iwakuni, but soon afterwards was despatched to an air power conference in Britain. Transportation delays meant he only arrived in Korea on 5 August, and had little time on the Meteor before assuming command of the squadron.[54] One of his first actions, following discussions with the US Fifth Air Force, was to take the Australian unit out of its air-to-air combat role, and curtail its operations in "MiG Alley", the area between the Yalu and Chongchon Rivers on North Korea's border with Manchuria. Two encounters between No. 77 Squadron and communist MiG-15s had convinced Steege that the straight-winged Meteors were outclassed as fighters by the swept-wing MiGs. His decision caused controversy as some UN commanders believed that proper training and tactics would have allowed the Meteor to remain competitive as a fighter, and for the Australian pilots the change of role amounted to a loss of prestige.[55][56] Steege flew few missions in Korea, a fact seized upon by Air Marshal Sir Cecil Bouchier, a senior RAF officer who had championed the Meteor and considered the action precipitate.[57] The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal George Jones, backed Steege and the squadron was relegated mainly to escort duty and local air defence. Morale suffered and it was not until after Steege's departure on 26 December that another offensive role was found for the Meteors, specifically ground attack.[55][58]

... the RAF intended using it as a bomber interceptor, not for air combat, and it was suitable for the air defence of the UK in those days. But to put it into air-to-air operations against the MiG in Korea was just asking for an entire squadron to get knocked off.

Steege on the Gloster Meteor[59]

After returning to Australia, Steege was appointed chief instructor at the

Lockheed P-3B Orion maritime patrol aircraft.[67] He then served as SASO with Headquarters Operational Command (now Air Command) at RAAF Base Glenbrook, New South Wales, from May 1970 until he retired from the Air Force on 31 October 1972.[24]

Later life

After leaving the RAAF, Steege served as a consultant to several aerospace defence firms, including Martin Marietta Overseas Corporation, which he joined in 1983.[1][18] His wife Joan died on 11 July 1984.[68] Jennifer Fisher became his partner in 1987, and they married in 2004.[1] Steege maintained his connection with No. 450 Squadron in later years; as a guest at the 1994 RAAF History Conference in Canberra he discussed the challenges of establishing the unit in the Middle East in 1941.[18][69] In 2010, he joined three fellow members of No. 3 Squadron who had shipped out to the Middle East on 15 July 1940 for the 70th anniversary commemoration of the event at RAAF Base Richmond.[70] Steege made his home in Palm Beach, New South Wales, and was a keen sailor.[49][71] He died on 1 September 2013, aged ninety-five, and was survived by his second wife, son and stepdaughter.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Llewelyn, Ken (9 September 2013). "Air ace decorated for daring feats". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Wing Commander Gordon Henry Steege". Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Steege; Llewellyn, "Steege, Gordon Henry", Cassette 1/Side A
  4. Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 8 April 1941. p. 5. Retrieved 10 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia
    .
  5. ^ "RAAF graduates receive badges". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 24 June 1938. p. 14. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ Roylance, Air Base Richmond, pp. 46, 123
  7. ^ Coulthard-Clark, The Third Brother, p. 214
  8. ^ Roylance, Air Base Richmond, p. 61
  9. ^ Gillison, Royal Australian Air Force, p. 66 Archived 28 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Stephens, The RAAF in the Southwest Pacific Area, pp. 18–19
  11. ^ Herington, Air War Against Germany and Italy, p. 57 Archived 21 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ a b Herington, Air War Against Germany and Italy, p. 58 Archived 21 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h Shores; Williams, Aces High, p. 566
  14. ^ Herington, Air War Against Germany and Italy, pp. 63, 66 Archived 21 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ RAAF Historical Section, Fighter Units, p. 3
  16. ^ Thomas, Gloster Gladiator Aces, p. 44
  17. ^ a b Herington, Air War Against Germany and Italy, p. 63 Archived 21 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ a b c "Air Commodore Gordon Steege". The Telegraph. London. 29 September 2013. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  19. ^ Herington, Air War Against Germany and Italy, p. 64 Archived 21 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ Herington, Air War Against Germany and Italy, p. 67 Archived 21 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ Herington, Air War Against Germany and Italy, pp. 68–70 Archived 21 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ a b Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, p. 80
  23. ^ a b Herington, Air War Against Germany and Italy, pp. 69–72 Archived 21 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Garrisson, Australian Fighter Aces, p. 160
  25. ^ a b Thomas, Hurricane Aces 1941–45, pp. 49–50
  26. ^ "Honours and Awards (Recommendation): Gordon Henry Steege". Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  27. ^ "No. 35131". The London Gazette. 8 April 1941. p. 2041.
  28. ^ Herington, Air War Against Germany and Italy, p. 73 Archived 21 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ a b Steege; Llewellyn, "Steege, Gordon Henry", Cassette 2/Side B
  30. ^ a b RAAF Historical Section, Fighter Units, pp. 105–106
  31. ^ Herington, Air War Against Germany and Italy, pp. 95–99 Archived 21 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ "No. 35284". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 September 1941. pp. 5569–5573.
  33. ^ Herington, Air War Against Germany and Italy, p. 218 Archived 13 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine
  34. ^ a b Newton, Australian Air Aces, p. 110
  35. ^ RAAF Historical Section, Fighter Units, p. 111
  36. ^ Steege; Llewellyn, "Steege, Gordon Henry", Cassette 3/Side A
  37. ^ a b c d e RAAF Historical Section, Radar Units, pp. 131–137
  38. ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp. 69, 76 Archived 22 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine
  39. ^ RAAF Historical Section, Fighter Units, p. 63
  40. ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp. 125–126 Archived 21 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  41. ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp. 130–131 Archived 21 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  42. ^ a b Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp. 170–177 Archived 28 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine
  43. ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, p. 209 Archived 2 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine
  44. ^ "No. 36463". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 April 1944. p. 1674.
  45. ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, p. 249 Archived 26 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  46. ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, p. 299 Archived 16 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine
  47. ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp. 304, 307–308, 312 Archived 16 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine
  48. ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, p. 388 Archived 1 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine
  49. ^ a b c d Chisholm, Who's Who in Australia 1947, p. 780
  50. ^ "In town and out". The Herald. Melbourne. 10 August 1953. p. 11. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  51. ^ "Family notices". The Age. Melbourne. 4 August 1939. p. 1. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  52. ^ "Military mission to Malaya". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 22 July 1950. p. 2. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  53. ^ Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 234–236
  54. ^ Hurst, The Forgotten Few, p. 154
  55. ^ a b Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 236–237
  56. ^ O'Neill, Combat Operations, pp. 335, 358
  57. ^ Hurst, The Forgotten Few, p. 157
  58. ^ Wilson, The Brotherhood of Airmen, pp. 181–182
  59. ^ Stephens, The War in the Air, p. 120
  60. ^ "Gp Capt Steege appointed to SEATO planners". The Canberra Times. 15 October 1958. p. 3. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  61. ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 416, 426
  62. ^ Roylance, Air Base Richmond, pp. 97–98
  63. ^ RAAF Historical Section, Introduction, Bases and Supporting Organisations, p. 121
  64. ^ "Canberra". RAAF Museum. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  65. ^ "Review team may decide RAAF units to be switched in re-shuffle". The Canberra Times. 15 April 1968. p. 4. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  66. ^ "Dassault Mirage III". RAAF Museum. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  67. ^ RAAF Historical Section, Introduction, Bases and Supporting Organisations, pp. 135–137
  68. ^ "Re. will of Joan Iris Steege". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. Sydney. 3 May 1985. p. 2001. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  69. ^ Mordike, The RAAF in Europe and North Africa, pp. 14–16, 61
  70. ^ "70th Anniversary of 3 Squadron "Marching Out" to War". 3 Squadron RAAF Association. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  71. ^ Sheppeard, Amanda (6 February 2015). "Palm Beach's historic Pink House hits the market for the first time in more than four decades". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 2 April 2023.

References

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