Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Meggs, Keith Raymond, Sergeant, A33283, OAM, DFM

Keith Meggs was born on 7 January 1928 in Melbourne, Victoria and he was the son of Raymond Cecil Meggs and Irene Ellen Burrell. He grew up in Northcote and North Fitzroy in Victoria, and he was educated at Northcote High School. He then went to the Adastral Aeronautical College where he studied Jet Propulsion, passing the examination in 1947. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force as a trainee pilot on 2 August 1948. He stated his occupation as an aircraft mechanic, and he was employed by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in Port Melbourne.

Meggs commenced his flying training at the 1st FTS at Point Cook in Victoria and qualified as a Pilot IV on 24 February 1950. Four days later, he reported to the 3rd (Tac/R) Squadron in Canberra, where he served until 14 August. After that, he was attached to 76 Squadron in Williamstown, and on 24 August he was graded a Pilot III. He was appointed a sergeant pilot on 1 November and on 14 December he was posted to 77 Fighter Squadron, and he deployed to Japan and Korea. He flew Mustangs and Meteors, on many occasions, at dangerously low altitudes, destroying and damaging enemy installations. On 24 August 1951, he was promoted to flight sergeant, and he completed his tour, earning a DFM and US Air Medal. On his return from Korea, he was assigned to 75 Squadron based at Williamstown on 24 March 1952. The squadron soon afterwards saw service in Malta, where they were equipped with vampires. Meggs was commissioned as a flying officer on 1 July 1954 and after returning to Australia, he was discharged on 20 June 1956. He rejoined the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in Port Melbourne, where he remained until around 1964.

Being keenly interested in civil aviation, he was a founding member of the Aviation Historical Society. After working at the Department of Civil Aviation as an Air Traffic Controller, he took up charter flying as a freelancer. With his keen interest in aviation, he compiled and published a comprehensive history of 100 years of Australian aircraft building.

Keith Meggs passed away on 13 March 2022, aged 94 years. He was cremated at a service held on 18 March at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery.

Awards:

1. Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) – awarded 8 June 2009.

For service to the community through the research and documentation of Australian Aviation history.

2. Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) LG 1 April 1952 Page 1827

Flight Sergeant Meggs, K. R, has flown a total of one hundred operational missions in Mustang and Meteor aircraft in support of the United Nations Forces in Korea. This non-commissioned officer’s aggressiveness and absolute reliability in operations have brought great credit on himself and have contributed largely to the efficiency of his Squadron.

3. Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 with clasp Korea

4. Korean Campaign Medal

5. UN Korean Medal

6. Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with clasp Japan

7. Australian Defence Medal

8. US Air Medal CG 22 June 1951 Page 1555

Pilot III Keith R. Meggs, performed acts of meritorious service while participating in sustained operations in support of United Nations activities in Korea. Pilot III Meggs participated in ten (10) operational flights during the period 28 December 1950 to 17 January 1951, in the course of these operations dive bombing, rocketing and strafing runs were made from dangerously low altitudes, destroying and damaging enemy installations and equipment. Through his ability, initiative and courage, Pilot III Meggs has brought great credit upon himself and the Royal Air Force.

9. Flying Badge issued on 23 February 1950.

Compiled By Kerry Bulow