Peter Squire
Sir Peter Squire | |
---|---|
Birth name | Peter Ted Squire |
Born | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Flying Cross Air Force Cross Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air | 7 October 1945
Early life
Peter Squire was born at Felixstowe, Suffolk, on 7 October 1945, the son of Wing Commander Frank Squire, D.S.O., D.F.C., who was the son of a Devon farmer, and Margaret Pascoe Squire (née Trump). He received his schooling at the independent King's School, Bruton in Somerset, the fees of which were paid for by the British Government as he was the son of a serving military commissioned officer.[1]
Military career
In 1961, at the age of sixteen Squire was awarded a scholarship to academically study at
In 1973 he commanded the R.A.F.'s display squadron "
Squire was appointed commanding officer of
With No.1 (F) Squadron R.A.F. assigned to a ground-attack role in the conflict, Squire personally flew twenty four sorties against Argentine positions in support of British Army and Royal Marines operations on West Falkland and East Falkland. During one attack a 7.62mm bullet fired from the ground penetrated his harrier's cockpit. On 8 June 1982 he suffered an engine failure whilst landing at a forward operating base behind British lines at San Carlos and crashed the aircraft,[14] walking away uninjured.[15] On 13 June 1982 he was the first R.A.F. pilot to drop a laser-guided bomb in action during fighting at Mount Longdon,[12] for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.[15] Four Harriers from No.1 (F) Squadron of its ten combat strength were lost during the war, three to enemy ground fire, and one (piloted by Squire) through engine failure whilst in flight.[16]
After the war, whilst still in the Falklands, on 6 November 1982 Squire again suffered engine failure whilst out on a routine patrol, and was forced to eject from the aircraft at low altitude near Cape Pembroke, being rescued from the sea uninjured by a Royal Navy helicopter.[13] On return to the United Kingdom he became leader of the R.A.F.'s 'Command Briefing and Presentation Team', and subsequently went on to be Personal Staff Officer to the Air Officer Commanding RAF Strike Command in 1984.[1] Promoted to group captain on 1 July 1985,[17] he took up the appointment of Station Commander of RAF Cottesmore in 1986.[1]
He was appointed to the post of Director Air Offensive at the
He was appointed
In 2000 he became
Later life
In retirement Squire joined the
He died of heart failure at the age of 72 on 19 February 2018 at his home, "Lower Park", at
Personal life
In 1970 he married Carolyn Joynson, the marriage producing three sons.[1] His main personal interest was golf.[1]
Arms
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References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4081-1414-8
- ^ Interview with Peter Squire about his life and career, Imperial War Museum's Sound Archive.
- ^ "No. 44110". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 September 1966. p. 9965.
- ^ "No. 44227". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 January 1967. p. 576.
- ^ "No. 44770". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 January 1969. p. 733.
- ^ "No. 45984". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 May 1973. p. 6504.
- ^ "No. 46029". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 July 1973. p. 8289.
- ^ "No. 47869". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 1979. p. 15.
- ^ "No. 48294". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 September 1980. p. 12376.
- ^ "No. 49194". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 December 1982. p. 16124.
- ^ "The No 1 (Fighter) Squadron Operation Corporate Diary". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ a b c "Wing Commander Peter Squire, No. 1 (F) Squadron, RAF". Imperial War Museum. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ a b Briley, Harold (November 2003). "RAF's Falklands Role in War and Peace". Falklands Info. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ "Report on the crash for Harrier GR3 XZ989". Aviation Safety Network. 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ a b "No. 49134". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 October 1982. p. 12854.
- ^ "List of British Aircraft Destroyed". Naval History. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ "No. 50195". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 July 1985. p. 9770.
- ^ "No. 52005". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1990. p. 73.
- ^ "No. 52591". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 1991. p. 10091.
- ^ "Group #s 1 – 9". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 13 June 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ "No. 54314". The London Gazette. 12 February 1996. p. 2190.
- ^ "No. 54794". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 1997. p. 2.
- ^ "No. 55453". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 April 1999. p. 4139.
- ^ "No. 55442". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 March 1999. p. 3613.
- ^ "No. 56070". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2000. p. 2.
- ^ "Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire; Chief of the Air Staff". Interavia Business & Technology. October 2001. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ "Iraq War: Commitment: Population can face the future with confidence, says Ingram". The Birmingham Post. 5 April 2003. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ "No. 57168". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 January 2004. p. 130.
- ^ "No. 57175". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 January 2004. p. 385.
- ^ "No. 58638". The London Gazette. 12 March 2008. p. 3859.
- ^ Squire, Peter (2004). "The Harrier Goes to War" (PDF). Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ "Interview with Peter Squire". Imperial War Museum Sound Archive. 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ "Squire". Archived from the original on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
- ^ "Obituary for Peter Squire". The Moorlander. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ "Memorial service for Sir Peter Squire". No. 1 Fighter Squadron Association. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ "Court Circular". Buckingham Palace. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ The Heraldry Gazette, The Heraldry Society, December 2008, p. 7
- ^ Order of the Bath Insignia, Heraldsnet . Retrieved 28 December 2013