Group Captain Douglas George King­Lee was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in November 1944. He saw active service during World War II. He attended the All Purpose Flying Instructors' Course in the U.K. in 1947. He also attended Defence Services Staff College Course in 1965, Senior Officers Study Course at Joint Air Warfare School and Senior Officers Aviation Medicine Course in 1968. He has served with distinction in a number of operational and training units and has held important staff appointments at Air Headquarters and at Headquarters Training Command. In 1963, while commanding an operational Wing, he did creditable work. In November 1968, he took over the command of a Base Repair Depot. In this assignment, despite many difficulties, he has been able to increase the production of aircrafts.

Air Marshal Douglas George King-Lee, AVSM (3040) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1944 and has held many important command and staff assignments during his long meritorious service in the Air Force. His command appointments included the command of an important air base, a Tactical Air Centre, a Base Repair Depot, an Air Defence Control Centre, HQ Maritime Air Operations, Bombay and J & K area. His important staff appointments included Air Adviser to our High Commission in Bangladesh, Senior Air Staff Officer of Training Command and presently, Commandant of the National Defence College.

Air Marshal King-Lee during his service career has undergone a large number of professional courses - both in India and abroad - which includes Flying Instructors course at UK, Defence Services Staff College course at Wellington, Senior Officers Management course at Secunderabad and the National Defence College course.

During his tenure as OC of a Base Repair Depot, production rose to a level which had not been achieved ever before at that particular Depot. As Air Defence Commander of Eastern Sector during Bangladesh liberation war of 1971 he displayed exceptional qualities of supervision and leadership by maximum utilisation of available resources. Thereafter as Air Adviser to our High Commission in Bangladesh during the critical period from 1972-76, he displayed a rare combination of professionalism as well as diplomacy in extremely delicate handling of sensitive matters.

With vast experience as an instructor, both in the air and on the ground, and having held important assignments, Air Marshal King-Lee as Senior Air Staff Officer, Training Command, constantly reviewed training syllabi for every branch and trade and was thus instrumental in re-shaping the training in the IAF. During this period the Flying Training establishments had the lowest ever wastage rate among trainee pilots without compromising our standards.

Air Marshal King-Lee in his long career in the Indian Air Force has shown outstanding qualities of dynamic leadership and organisational, managerial and professional competence of a very high order.

Air Marshal Douglas George King-Lee has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.