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With the outbreak of the [[Second World War]] in 1939, Boyd volunteered for active service in the [[Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve]].<ref name="obit - Times" /> His first posting was to [[No. 600 Squadron RAF]] flying the [[Bristol Blenheim]].<ref name="obit - Telegraph" /> He was promoted to [[flying officer]] on 18 April 1940.<ref name="LG 18 June 1940">{{London Gazette |issue=34876 |date=18 June 1940 |page=3708 }}</ref> He flew the [[Bristol Beaufighter]] as a [[night fighter]] during the [[Battle of Britain]] in the later part of 1940.<ref name="obit - Times" /> He was promoted to the [[war substantive|war substantive rank]] of [[flight lieutenant]] on 18 April 1941.<ref name="LG 16 May 1941">{{London Gazette |issue=35165 |date=16 May 1941 |pages=2816–2817 }}</ref> On the night of 16 May 1941 he brought down a [[Junkers Ju 88]] followed by two [[Heinkel He 111]] bombers, one on the night of 10 October and the second on the night of 2 December.<ref name="Shores page 142">cite "Aces High" by Shores & Williams page 142"</ref> He shot down a further 2 aircraft in early 1942, a [[Heinkel He 111]] bomber on the night of 25 January and a [[Heinkel He 115]] on the night of 7 March,<ref name="Shores page 142"/> thereby reaching the total of 5 aerial victories required to become a [[flying ace]].<ref name="obit - Telegraph" /> By then he had been awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] ([[London Gazette|gazetted]] 9 January 1942) "in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy".<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35413 |date=9 January 1942 |page=191 |supp=y }}</ref>
With the outbreak of the [[Second World War]] in 1939, Boyd volunteered for active service in the [[Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve]].<ref name="obit - Times" /> His first posting was to [[No. 600 Squadron RAF]] flying the [[Bristol Blenheim]].<ref name="obit - Telegraph" /> He was promoted to [[flying officer]] on 18 April 1940.<ref name="LG 18 June 1940">{{London Gazette |issue=34876 |date=18 June 1940 |page=3708 }}</ref> He flew the [[Bristol Beaufighter]] as a [[night fighter]] during the [[Battle of Britain]] in the later part of 1940.<ref name="obit - Times" /> He was promoted to the [[war substantive|war substantive rank]] of [[flight lieutenant]] on 18 April 1941.<ref name="LG 16 May 1941">{{London Gazette |issue=35165 |date=16 May 1941 |pages=2816–2817 }}</ref> On the night of 16 May 1941 he brought down a [[Junkers Ju 88]] followed by two [[Heinkel He 111]] bombers, one on the night of 10 October and the second on the night of 2 December.<ref name="Shores page 142">cite "Aces High" by Shores & Williams page 142"</ref> He shot down a further 2 aircraft in early 1942, a [[Heinkel He 111]] bomber on the night of 25 January and a [[Heinkel He 115]] on the night of 7 March,<ref name="Shores page 142"/> thereby reaching the total of 5 aerial victories required to become a [[flying ace]].<ref name="obit - Telegraph" /> By then he had been awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] ([[London Gazette|gazetted]] 9 January 1942) "in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy".<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35413 |date=9 January 1942 |page=191 |supp=y }}</ref>


He was promoted to [[temporary rank|temporary]] [[squadron leader]] on 1 June 1942.<ref name="LG 3 July 1942">{{London Gazette |issue=35618 |date=3 July 1942 |page=2928 }}</ref> In March 1943, he was appointed [[officer commanding]] [[No. 219 Squadron RAF]] in preparation for an overseas posting.<ref name="obit - Times" /><ref name="obit - Telegraph" /> His promotion to squadron leader was made war substantive on 24 June 1943.<ref name="LG 11 January 1944">{{London Gazette |issue=36330 |date=11 January 1944 |page=314 |supp=y }}</ref> That month, the squadron was posted to North Africa where it operated out of modern-day [[Annaba]] in Algeria. He scored the first victories for the squadron during that posting by shooting down two Junkers Ju 88 bombers during the night of 30 June into 1 July.<ref name="obit - Telegraph" /><ref name="Shores page 142"/> He saw action over Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily and Italy, and provided air support during the [[Allied invasion of Italy]].<ref name="obit - Star" /><ref name="obit - Harrow">{{cite news|title=ARCHIE BOYD: A Battle of Britain OH|url=http://www.harrowassociation.com/netcommunity/document.doc?id=682|accessdate=6 August 2014|work=The Harrovian|issue=CXXVII (22)|publisher=Horrow School|date=3 May 2014|page=208|format=pdf}}</ref> During August and September, he shot down one Junkers Ju 88 and two Heinkel He 111 bombers.<ref name="obit - Telegraph" />
He was promoted to [[temporary rank|temporary]] [[squadron leader]] on 1 June 1942.<ref name="LG 3 July 1942">{{London Gazette |issue=35618 |date=3 July 1942 |page=2928 }}</ref> In March 1943, he was appointed [[officer commanding]] [[No. 219 Squadron RAF]] in preparation for an overseas posting.<ref name="obit - Times" /><ref name="obit - Telegraph" /> His promotion to squadron leader was made war substantive on 24 June 1943.<ref name="LG 11 January 1944">{{London Gazette |issue=36330 |date=11 January 1944 |page=314 |supp=y }}</ref> That month, the squadron was posted to North Africa where it operated out of modern-day [[Annaba]] in Algeria. He scored the first victories for the squadron during that posting by shooting down two Junkers Ju 88 bombers during the night of 30 June into 1 July.<ref name="obit - Telegraph" /><ref name="Shores page 142"/> He saw action over Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily and Italy, and provided air support during the [[Allied invasion of Italy]].<ref name="obit - Star" /><ref name="obit - Harrow">{{cite news|title=ARCHIE BOYD: A Battle of Britain OH |url=http://www.harrowassociation.com/netcommunity/document.doc?id=682 |accessdate=6 August 2014 |work=The Harrovian |issue=CXXVII (22) |publisher=Horrow School |date=3 May 2014 |page=208 |format=pdf |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402130538/http://www.harrowassociation.com/netcommunity/document.doc?id=682 |archivedate=2 April 2015 }}</ref> During August and September, he shot down one Junkers Ju 88 and two Heinkel He 111 bombers.<ref name="obit - Telegraph" />


In January 1944, the squadron returned to England where it was re-equipped with [[de Havilland Mosquito]].<ref name="obit - Telegraph" /> In March 1944, by then an [[acting rank|acting]] [[Wing commander (rank)|wing commander]], he was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=36406 |date=29 February 1944 |page=1060 |supp=y }}</ref> His squadron provided air cover during the [[Normandy landings]] of June 1944.<ref name="obit - Telegraph" /> He then served in a role protecting Britain from [[V-1 flying bombs]];<ref name="obit - Oxford Today" /> he shot his first one down on 15 June.<ref name="obit - Telegraph" /> His final posting was as the [[air attaché]] to the Republic of Ireland based in Dublin, Ireland.<ref name="obit - Telegraph" />
In January 1944, the squadron returned to England where it was re-equipped with [[de Havilland Mosquito]].<ref name="obit - Telegraph" /> In March 1944, by then an [[acting rank|acting]] [[Wing commander (rank)|wing commander]], he was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=36406 |date=29 February 1944 |page=1060 |supp=y }}</ref> His squadron provided air cover during the [[Normandy landings]] of June 1944.<ref name="obit - Telegraph" /> He then served in a role protecting Britain from [[V-1 flying bombs]];<ref name="obit - Oxford Today" /> he shot his first one down on 15 June.<ref name="obit - Telegraph" /> His final posting was as the [[air attaché]] to the Republic of Ireland based in Dublin, Ireland.<ref name="obit - Telegraph" />

Revision as of 15:35, 8 July 2017

For the Scottish footballer, see Archie Boyd (footballer).
Archie Boyd
Born(1918-06-20)20 June 1918
Sheffield, Yorkshire
Died4 April 2014(2014-04-04) (aged 95)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1939–1946
RankWing Commander
CommandsNo. 219 Squadron RAF
Battles / warsSecond World War
AwardsDistinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross

Wing Commander Archibald Douglas McNeill "Archie" Boyd, DSO, DFC (20 June 1918 – 4 April 2014) was a Royal Air Force officer and flying ace of the Second World War, and a businessman.[1][2]

Early life

Boyd was born on 20 June 1918, in Sheffield, England.[3] He was educated at Harrow School, a public boys boarding school in London.[1] He then matriculated into Trinity College, Oxford to study engineering.[2] While at university, he joined the Oxford University Air Squadron[4] and learnt to fly.[1] His studies were interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War when he volunteered for active service.[3]

RAF career

With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Boyd volunteered for active service in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.[1] His first posting was to No. 600 Squadron RAF flying the Bristol Blenheim.[2] He was promoted to flying officer on 18 April 1940.[5] He flew the Bristol Beaufighter as a night fighter during the Battle of Britain in the later part of 1940.[1] He was promoted to the war substantive rank of flight lieutenant on 18 April 1941.[6] On the night of 16 May 1941 he brought down a Junkers Ju 88 followed by two Heinkel He 111 bombers, one on the night of 10 October and the second on the night of 2 December.[7] He shot down a further 2 aircraft in early 1942, a Heinkel He 111 bomber on the night of 25 January and a Heinkel He 115 on the night of 7 March,[7] thereby reaching the total of 5 aerial victories required to become a flying ace.[2] By then he had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (gazetted 9 January 1942) "in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy".[8]

He was promoted to temporary squadron leader on 1 June 1942.[9] In March 1943, he was appointed officer commanding No. 219 Squadron RAF in preparation for an overseas posting.[1][2] His promotion to squadron leader was made war substantive on 24 June 1943.[10] That month, the squadron was posted to North Africa where it operated out of modern-day Annaba in Algeria. He scored the first victories for the squadron during that posting by shooting down two Junkers Ju 88 bombers during the night of 30 June into 1 July.[2][7] He saw action over Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily and Italy, and provided air support during the Allied invasion of Italy.[3][11] During August and September, he shot down one Junkers Ju 88 and two Heinkel He 111 bombers.[2]

In January 1944, the squadron returned to England where it was re-equipped with de Havilland Mosquito.[2] In March 1944, by then an acting wing commander, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.[12] His squadron provided air cover during the Normandy landings of June 1944.[2] He then served in a role protecting Britain from V-1 flying bombs;[13] he shot his first one down on 15 June.[2] His final posting was as the air attaché to the Republic of Ireland based in Dublin, Ireland.[2]

He left the military in 1946.[13] By the end of the war he had flown 595 sorties.[1]

Personal life

In July 1940, Boyde married Ursula Steven.[1] Together they had two sons and one daughter;[3] Archie, John, and Connie.[1]

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Wing Commander Archie Boyd". The Times. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Wing Commander Archie Boyd – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d "WWII pilot dies, aged 95". Sheffield Star. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  4. ^ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34562/page/6506
  5. ^ "No. 34876". The London Gazette. 18 June 1940. p. 3708.
  6. ^ "No. 35165". The London Gazette. 16 May 1941. pp. 2816–2817.
  7. ^ a b c cite "Aces High" by Shores & Williams page 142"
  8. ^ "No. 35413". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 January 1942. p. 191.
  9. ^ "No. 35618". The London Gazette. 3 July 1942. p. 2928.
  10. ^ "No. 36330". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 January 1944. p. 314.
  11. ^ "ARCHIE BOYD: A Battle of Britain OH". The Harrovian. No. CXXVII (22). Horrow School. 3 May 2014. p. 208. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "No. 36406". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 February 1944. p. 1060.
  13. ^ a b "Obituaries 2014". Oxford Today. University of Oxford. Retrieved 6 August 2014.

Bibliography

  • Christopher Shores and Clive Williams, Aces High, published by Grub Street, 1994. ISBN 1-898697-00-0
  • Christopher Shores, Aces High, Vol.2, published by Grub Street, 1999. ISBN 1-898697-00-0
  • Andrew Thomas, Beaufighter Aces of World War 2, published by Osprey, 2005. ISBN 1-84176-846-4
  • Kenneth Wynn, Men of the Battle of Britain, published by Gliddon Books, 1989. ISBN 0-947893-15-6
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