Derek Boitel-Gill
Derek Boitel-Gill | |
|---|---|
Second World War
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| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Derek Boitel-Gill,
Born in
Early life
Derek Pierre Aumale Boitel-Gill was born in
Boitel-Gill pursued a career in civil aviation, flying for Imperial Airways. In March 1937 his twin-engined de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide suffered an engine failure over the English Channel while flying in poor weather to Paris with a load of newspapers. He safely returned to England, landing at Lympne Airport instead of his port of origin, Croydon, but his radioman had to jettison much of the aircraft's cargo in order to maintain flying altitude. Another aircraft that departed Croydon with a cargo of newspapers at the same time as Boitel-Gill crashed, killing its crew. Later in the year he piloted the first flight for Northern Airways between London and Aberdeen. He subsequently went to British India, working for an Indian air line and also becoming the personal pilot of Mir Osman Ali Khan, the Nizam of Hyderabad. By this time he was married, to Katharine Buckley, and had at least one son.[1][5]
Second World War
In early April 1940, several months after the outbreak of the
Battle of Britain
Boitel-Gill returned to No. 152 Squadron in late July.
On 25 September Boitel-Gill destroyed a Ju 88 near Bournemouth and a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter over Portland. The next day he shot down a Ju 88 over the Isle of Wight. His last aerial victory was achieved on 19 October, when he and another pilot damaged a Ju 88 over Dorchester on 19 October.[5] Three days later he was recognised for his successes in the fighting over England with an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). The citation, published in The London Gazette, read:
In August, 1940, this officer, as leader of his squadron, intercepted an enemy formation consisting of thirty bombers which were escorted by some ninety fighters. As a result of his skilful leadership five of the enemy aircraft were destroyed, of which number Flight Lieutenant Boitel-Gill destroyed three. A further three enemy aircraft were damaged in the conflict. On a previous occasion Flight Lieutenant Boitel-Gill destroyed a Junkers 88.
— London Gazette, No. 34976, 22 October 1940[9]
Later war service
In November, Boitel-Gill was appointed commander of No. 152 Squadron.
Assigned to No. 59 OTU at Crosby-on-Eden on instructing duties, Boitel-Gill was promoted to wing commander. On 18 September 1941, he fatally crashed a Hawker Hurricane fighter while performing circuits of the airfield at the OTU to provide its anti-aircraft gunners with target practice. According to a witness, he may not have allowed sufficient clearance when pulling out of a dive.[1]
Cremated at West Norwood Cemetery and Crematorium, Boitel-Gill's remains were interred in the screen wall there.[2][11] He is credited with the destruction of eight German aircraft, with a share in one damaged.[5]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "The Airmen's Stories – F/Lt. D P A Boitel-Gill". Battle of Britain London Monument. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d Wynn 2015, p. 51.
- ^ Rawlings 1976, pp. 18–19.
- ^ "No. 33703". The London Gazette. 31 March 1931. p. 2141.
- ^ a b c d e Shores & Williams 1994, pp. 136–137.
- ^ "No. 34447". The London Gazette. 26 October 1937. p. 6618.
- ^ a b Rawlings 1976, pp. 291–292.
- ^ Price 1988, pp. 120, 126.
- ^ "No. 34976". The London Gazette. 22 October 1940. p. 6134.
- ^ "No. 35010". The London Gazette. 10 December 1940. p. 6985.
- ^ "Wing Commander Derek Pierre Aumale Boitel-Gill". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
References
- Price, Alfred (1988) [1979]. Battle of Britain: The Hardest Day, 18 August. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-831-1.
- Rawlings, John (1976). Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: MacDonald & James. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
- Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994). Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-8-9869-7000.
- Wynn, Kenneth G. (2015). Men of the Battle of Britain: A Biographical Directory of the Few. Barnsley: Frontline Books. ISBN 978-1-39901-465-6.