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Archie Boyd

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Archie Boyd
Born(1918-06-20)20 June 1918
Sheffield, Yorkshire
Died4 April 2014(2014-04-04) (aged 95)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal 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 British businessman and Royal Air Force officer who became a decorated flying ace during the Second World War.[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 World War II when he volunteered for active service.[3]

Career

Military service

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]

He was promoted to temporary squadron leader on 1 June 1942.[8] 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.[9] In June 1943, 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][10] 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] By March 1944, he was an acting wing commander.[11] 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;[12] 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.[12] 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]

Honours and decorations

On 9 January 1942, Boyd was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) 'in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy'.[13] On 3 March 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).[11]

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.
  6. ^ "No. 35165". The London Gazette. 16 May 1941.
  7. ^ a b c cite "Aces High" by Shores & Williams page 142"
  8. ^ "No. 35618". The London Gazette. 3 July 1942.
  9. ^ "No. 36330". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 11 January 1944.
  10. ^ "ARCHIE BOYD: A Battle of Britain OH" (pdf). The Harrovian. No. CXXVII (22). Horrow School. 3 May 2014. p. 208. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  11. ^ a b "No. 36406". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 29 February 1944.
  12. ^ a b "Obituaries 2014". Oxford Today. University of Oxford. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  13. ^ "No. 35413". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 6 January 1942.

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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