| Walter Myers Churchill | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1907 Amsterdam |
| Died | 27 August 1942 (aged 35) Sicily |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | NA - 1942 † |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Service number | 90241 |
| Commands held | 605 Squadron |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross |
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.
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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.[1] His mother was Violet Churchill (née Myers).
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,[2] 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[3]. 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.[4]
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[5].
This officer has shot down three enemy aircraft since his arrival in France and has led many patrols with courage and skill.
— London Gazette[6]
This officer assumed command of a squadron shortly after its arrival in France and led it with marked success, inspiring his pilots and maintenance crews magnificently. He undertook the tactical instruction of new pilots, led many patrols successfully and organised his ground defences and crews in an exemplary manner. While under his command the squadron destroyed 62 enemy aircraft and he was throughout the main-spring of the offensive spirit, their excellent tactics and their adequate maintenance results. Only four pilots of the squadron were lost. Flight Lieutenant Churchill has recently destroyed four enemy aircraft, bringing his total to seven
— London Gazette[6]
Cull, Brian. Spitfires over Malta - The Epic Air Battles of 1942. London: Grub Street, 2005. ISBN 1 904943 30 6.