Boy Mould
Peter Mould | |
|---|---|
 Pilot Officer Mould of No. 1 Squadron RAF, just after returning to Berry-au-Bac, having shot down two German aircraft east of Vouziers. | |
| Nickname(s) | Boy |
| Born | 14 December 1916 |
| Died | 1 October 1941 (aged 24) Malta |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  Royal Air Force |
| Rank | Squadron leader |
| Service number | 33414 |
| Commands | No. 185 Squadron RAF |
| Battles / wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar |
Peter William Olbert "Boy" Mould DFC & Bar[1] (14 December 1916 – 1 October 1941, Malta) was a British Royal Air Force flying ace in the Second World War.
The first son and third child of Charles and Ethel Mould, he grew up on "the family estate at Great Easton, and later at the Rectory at Stoke Dry, both in Rutland."[1]
He "joined the Royal Naval training ship HMS Conway, but changed to the Air Force when he joined Halton Apprentice School."[1] In 1937, Mould was one of four Halton students in his intake of 180 selected to transfer to RAF College, Cranwell, to train to become pilot officers. There, he excelled at athletics.[2]
After graduating in 1939, Pilot Officer Mould was assigned to No. 1 Squadron RAF at Tangmere.[1] On the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, the squadron was deployed to France as part of the RAF Advanced Air Striking Force. On 30 October, he achieved the RAF's first victory of the war, downing a Dornier Do 17P photo-reconnaissance aircraft west of Toul.[2][3] He would go on to claim six more aircraft in the skies over France, making him an ace.[3] For his accomplishments, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).[1]
The squadron was withdrawn from France on 18 June. Though it fought in the Battle of Britain, Mould did not. He was posted to No. 5 Operational Training Unit as an instructor.[4]
In May 1941, Flight Lieutenant Mould was sent to Malta, helping to deliver Hurricane IIa's to the island from HMS Ark Royal on 3 April.[4] There, he led a flight of No. 261 Squadron RAF until 12 May.[4] When No. 185 Squadron RAF was formed, he was given command as a squadron leader.[4] He shot down an Italian Macchi C.200 on 11 July.[4]
On 1 October, he led eight Hawker Hurricanes to intercept an Italian raid 30 miles (48 km) north-east of the island. While chasing one group of enemy aircraft, he was ambushed by another group of Macchi C.202 fighters, the first of their type to appear over Malta.[4][5] None of his comrades saw him being shot down, but he did not return to base. Mould was awarded a bar to his DFC, either in September[4] or posthumously.[1]
While on leave in January 1940, he married a woman named Phyllis.[1]
Victories
His final tally was eight aircraft, along with some shared credit.[4] He flew the Hawker Hurricane I until he was posted to Malta, at which point he piloted the Hurricane IIa.[4]
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 October 1939 | Dornier Do 17 | West of Toul | |
| 1 April 1940 | Messerschmitt Bf 110 | Near Longuyon | |
| 20 April | Heinkel He 112 | West of Saarlautern | Unconfirmed |
| 10 May | Heinkel He 111 | Vassincourt - Berry-au-Bac | |
| 11 May | Messerschmitt Bf 110 | West of Chémery | 1/3 shared credit |
| 13 May | Heinkel He 111 Messerschmitt Bf 110 |
East of Vouziers | |
| 14 May | Messerschmitt Bf 110 | ||
| 15 May | Messerschmitt Bf 110 | ||
| 9 July 1941 | Six "flying boats" | On the water at Syracuse, Sicily | 1/4 shared credit |
| 11 July | Macchi C.200 | Malta |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "The First in France". Aviation Archaeology.
- ^ a b Christopher Shores (17 February 2011). "France, 1940: 1 Squadron". BBC.
- ^ a b "Royal Air Force: France, 1939-1940". Imperial War Museums.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (15 July 2008). Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces of WWII, Volume One. Grub Street Publishing. p. 455. ISBN 9781898697008. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ^ "01.10.1941 No. 185 Squadron Hurricane IIb Z5265 GL-T P/O. Mould D.F.C. and bar". Aircrew Remembered (aircrewremembered.com).