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Legendary naval aviator’s medals and papers donated to inspire future generations
10 September 2024
Victoria Crosses. Distinguished Flying Crosses. OBEs. MBEs. The King’s/Queen’s Gallantry Medal.
Naval aviators have won them all in 115 years of flying at sea.
But only one naval aviator ever held the Turkish Distinguished Service Medal – a rare decoration even it its native land and never bestowed on a foreigner until Lieutenant – later Captain – Ian McKechnie saved the lives of 72 Turkish sailors in a single night.
Fifty years after his deed that medal – and other decorations, citations and accounts of his accomplishments as a pilot – have been handed over to the guardians of naval heritage.
They were received by Lord-Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran is Sheriff Iona Sara McDonald on behalf of the Fleet Air Arm Museum, where they will join medals won by other great names in naval aviation as a reminder of past deeds and bravery to inspire future generations.
The Turkish medal was awarded for one of the greatest single acts of lifesaving in Fleet Air Arm history.
In July 1974, Lt McKechnie was pilot of the Wasp helicopter on frigate HMS Andromeda, dispatched to Cyprus to help civilians in the wake of Greek-Turkish conflict raging for the island.
Amid Turkish landings on July 21, the former US destroyer TCG Kocatepe was mistaken for a Greek ship by Turkish pilots and bombed.
More than 50 souls died, but over 100 were saved by the Royal Navy, 72 of them by Lt McKechnie in his tiny helicopter.
Over 4½ hours the then lieutenant set down 55 times on the deck of a foreign warship, Turkish destroyer TCG Berk which had never conducted such operations – all in the pitch black of night.
The head of naval aviation, Vice Admiral Sir Peter Austin, described it “the finest feat of aviation in the Fleet Air Arm” in all of 1974 – and awarded Lt McKechnie the Boyd Trophy in recognition.
Due to the political sensitivities at the time, the full details of the action were not revealed – nor the nationality of the ship and rescued sailors.
Born in Surrey and educated in Portsmouth, after a brief career in the Merchant Navy, Ian McKechnie joined the Royal Navy in 1963 and trained as a jet pilot – though he proved equally at home flying a helicopter.
In a 30-year career, he commanded HMS Gannet, the air base at Prestwick, served as the RN’s director of aviation and as Queen’s Harbourmaster Clyde.
Capt McKechnie died in 2003 aged just 60, with his impressive collection of papers, medals and other mementos of a remarkable career entrusted to his friend and colleague Commander Malcolm Warr, who worked with Ian on Dockyard takeovers
With the consent of the late pilot’s family, some of that collection, led by the Turkish decoration, was presented just a stone’s throw from the air station he commanded in the mid-80s, HMS Gannet, at the County Building in Ayr during the international air show at neighbouring Prestwick.
Fittingly, the medal and memorabilia were brought back to Yeovilton by a Wasp from naval aviation charity Navy Wings which had been displaying at the show in front of nearly a quarter of a million spectators.
Cdr Warr hopes that Capt McKechnie’s qualities – “Ian's sense of humour and his willingness to subjugate his own interests for the good of the team” – not to mention his deeds and selfless will inspire current and future generations of young people to join the Royal Navy, but also explain to them the contributions and sacrifices which have been (and continue to be) made on their behalf to keep them safe."