Hi everyone,
I’m researching the kenyan mau mau conflict and the RAF’s contribution to it in the 1950s. Air Commodore Beisiegel was made the Senior RAF officer in Kenya when he was posted to Kenya in 1954. As far as i know he was based at Eastleigh, but I’m not entirely sure. His involvement made a real difference in ensuring air power was effective in the conflict. Does anybody know any details about him, how long he was in kenya for and where he went afterwards?
Is there anybody out there who was based in Kenya and remembers him or perhaps worked with him?
any info gratefully received either on here or to my personal email address of [email]stevechap50@hotmail.com[/email]
best wishes
steve
By: stevechap50 - 1st October 2011 at 11:46
many thanks Bazv
By: bazv - 26th September 2011 at 19:00
Actually looking at the RAFWEB link – his wartime career is sketchy as well,he was portrayed as O.C RAF Coltishall by Ernest Clark in ‘Reach for the sky’ and I had remembered he was mentioned in a couple of wartime bios !!
Edit…forgot to paste this…
RAF Coltishall was declared fully operational to No 12 Group (Fighter Command) at 00:01hrs on 23rd June 1940 by the Station Commander, Wing Commander W K Beisiegal
By: bazv - 26th September 2011 at 09:54
Excerpt from Kenya Gazette 1 June 1965 implies that WKB may have settled in Kenya post RAF
gives his address as… Astra Farm,P.O. Konza,Machakos District
Edit …looking at G.E. – Konza is close to Nairobi which might suggest prior knowledge of the area !!
rgds baz
By: stevechap50 - 25th September 2011 at 23:35
thanks baz v most appreciated
steve
By: bazv - 25th September 2011 at 19:34
You may have seen this article from Air Power already but just in case…
an
Air Commodore would be better
placed to improve the control and
coordination of air operations with
ground forces.
95
Notwithstanding
this, it still took until May 1954 for
Air Commodore Beisiegel to arrive
as the new SRAFO. He stayed
until September 1955 and made a
considerable impact; improving
the coordination process between
target-marking by the Piper-Pacers
and the bombing of the Mau Mau
by the Harvards and Lincolns. He
also instigated a bombing strategy;
where specific areas were focussed
on by all air assets one stage at a time,
as opposed to the previously suboptimal policy of bombing all areas
simultaneously. As an accolade, the
Air Member for Personnel noted that;
‘The presence of an Air Commodore
in Kenya has justified itself in many
ways and the present S.R.A.F.O. has
done admirable work in establishing
a better relationship with the Kenyan
Government and in planning and
controlling air operations.’
Article starts page 75 on this link…
Some details about ‘Bike’ Beisiegel on rafweb but incomplete postwar…
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September 24, 2011 at 10:23 pm