107 Aberdeen Squadron Air Cadets
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Brig-Gen John Harold Whitworth Becke CMG DSO AFC (1879 – 1949)

Brig-Gen (Air Cdre) J H W Becke was the first 'commandant' of the Air Cadets in Scotland.   Becke was a distinguished and much decorated officer of the Royal Flying Corps.   From 1938, Brig-Gen Becke, of Priestoun, Edzell supported the Air League of the British Empire in establishing the Air Defence Cadet Corps in Scotland.   Brig-Gen Becke worked closely with the Aberdeen Cadet Council to establish the first squadrons in the city, including "No 107 (Aberdeen) Squadron ADCC".

J H W Becke was appointed to a commission in the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, 4th Battalion The Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment) on 20 Dec 1899 and saw action as an infantry officer in the Second Boer War.   On 18 June 1912, he qualified as a pilot gaining Royal Aeronautical Certificate (RAeC) No.  236 and on 28 Oct 1912 he became a Flight Commander on No 2 Sqn Royal Flying Corps.   In Dec 1912 he flew a Maurice Farman III 160 miles from Aldershot to Plymouth (the world distance record three years earlier was only 145 miles!) Becke went on to form No.  6 Sqn RFC which was posted to France in Oct 1914.   In 1915, Becke was OC No.2 Sqn RFC and subsequently OC 1st (Corps) Wing.   In 1916 and 1917 he was Brigadier-General Commanding IV and II (RFC) Brigades respectively.   On 1 Jan 1918 he was rewarded for distinguished service in the Field and made "Brevet Lieutenant General".   Becke was awarded the French Legion of Honour (1916), Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1917, French Croix de Guerre (1918), Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1918, and Air Force Cross (AFC) in 1919.   Becke retired his commission on 29 Feb 1920, retaining the rank of Brigadier-General and was granted the rank of Air Commodore.