Walter Churchill
Encyclopedia
Group Captain Walter Myers Churchill DSO
DFC
(1907–1942) was a Royal Air Force
pilot during World War II.
He was a brother of Captain Peter Churchill
DSO Croix de Guerre, and Major Oliver Churchill
DSO MC, both of whom were SOE
officers during World War II.
Walter was born in Amsterdam in 1907 and was educated at Cambridge University where he read Engineering
after which he started an aviation precision engineering company Churchill Components (Coventry) Ltd in 1937.
He was a friend of Sir Frank Whittle, the jet-engine pioneer, and Walter's company machined compressor blades for the first gas-turbine engines for him.
During the war, he served with No. 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron
, No. 3 Squadron
and No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron
, and took part in the Battle of Britain
as a Squadron Leader. He also evaluated various makes of fighter aircraft for the RAF, and played a key role in getting Spitfire aircraft to the defence of Malta in the hands of the American Eagle Squadron, which he helped train. He was an ‘ace’ pilot
credited with seven ‘kills’ and was awarded a Distinguished Service Order
and a Distinguished Flying Cross
.
In August 1942 he was stationed in Malta and on 27 August 1942 was killed in action while leading a raid in a Spitfire on Biscari
airfield near Gela
in southern Sicily.
His company continued under the management of his wife, Joyce, and subsequently by his second son, James. The company is now known as J.J. Churchill Ltd. and is currently managed by James's son, Andrew.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(1907–1942) was a Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
pilot during World War II.
He was a brother of Captain Peter Churchill
Peter Churchill
Peter Morland Churchill DSO Croix de Guerre was an SOE Officer in France during World War II.He was a brother of Group Captain Walter Churchill DSO DFC and Major Oliver Churchill DSO MC who was also an SOE Officer during World War II.-Biography:...
DSO Croix de Guerre, and Major Oliver Churchill
Oliver Churchill
Major William Oliver Churchill DSO MC was an SOE officer during World War II.He was a brother of Group Captain Walter Churchill DSO DFC and Captain Peter Churchill DSO Croix de Guerre.-Biography:...
DSO MC, both of whom were SOE
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
officers during World War II.
Biography
His father was William Algernon Churchill (1865–1947) a British Consul who served in Amsterdam, Stockholm, and Milan. His father was also an art connoisseur, and author of what is still the standard reference work on early European paper and papermaking Watermarks in Paper. His mother was Violet Churchill (née Myers).Walter was born in Amsterdam in 1907 and was educated at Cambridge University where he read Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
after which he started an aviation precision engineering company Churchill Components (Coventry) Ltd in 1937.
He was a friend of Sir Frank Whittle, the jet-engine pioneer, and Walter's company machined compressor blades for the first gas-turbine engines for him.
During the war, he served with No. 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron
No. 605 Squadron RAF
No 605 Squadron was formed as an Auxiliary Air Force Squadron. Initially formed as a bomber unit, it was one of the most successful participants of the Battle of Britain. It also had the distinction of being active during World War II at two fronts at a time, when the squadron was split up between...
, No. 3 Squadron
No. 3 Squadron RAF
No 3 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Typhoon F2, FGR4 and T3 from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.No 3 Squadron, which celebrated its 95th anniversary over the weekend of 11-13 May 2007, is unique in the RAF for having two official crests....
and No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron
No. 71 Squadron RAF
No. 71 Squadron is a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron, the number has been used three times, once by the Royal Flying Corps for an Australian Flying Corps squadron, in the second world war as an Eagle Squadron and post-war as a fighter-bomber unit based in Royal Air Force Germany.-First World...
, and took part in the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
as a Squadron Leader. He also evaluated various makes of fighter aircraft for the RAF, and played a key role in getting Spitfire aircraft to the defence of Malta in the hands of the American Eagle Squadron, which he helped train. He was an ‘ace’ pilot
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with seven ‘kills’ and was awarded a Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
and a Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
.
In August 1942 he was stationed in Malta and on 27 August 1942 was killed in action while leading a raid in a Spitfire on Biscari
Acate
Acate is a small town and comune in the south of Sicily, Italy, part of the province of Ragusa. It is located in the Dirillo River valley, 34 kilometers from Ragusa....
airfield near Gela
Gela
Gela is a town and comune in the province of Caltanissetta in the south of Sicily, Italy. The city is at about 84 kilometers distance from the city of Caltanissetta, on the Mediterranean Sea. The city has a larger population than the provincial capital, and ranks second in land area.Gela is an...
in southern Sicily.
His company continued under the management of his wife, Joyce, and subsequently by his second son, James. The company is now known as J.J. Churchill Ltd. and is currently managed by James's son, Andrew.
Honours and awards
- 31 May 1940 Flight Lieutenant Walter Myers Churchill is awarded the Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
:
- 31 May 1940 Flight Lieutenant Walter Myers Churchill DFC (90241) is appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service OrderDistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
: