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Adrian Boyd
Adrian Boyd, DSO, DFC & Bar (1 January 1913 – 21 January 1975) was a British flying ace who served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He was credited with having shot down at least eighteen aircraft.
Born in Sialkot in British India, Boyd's initial military service was with the Royal Navy, from which he resigned in 1934. Two years later he joined the RAF, serving with No. 65 Squadron once he completed his flying training. Soon after the outbreak of the Second World War, Boyd was posted to No. 145 Squadron which operated Hawker Hurricane fighters. He flew during the Battle of France and achieved a number of aerial victories for which he was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). Further successes followed during the Battle of Britain, including five aerial victories in one day on 8 August 1940. The recipient of a Bar to the DFC, he was rested from duties in November and spent several months as an instructor before returning to operations with a posting as commander of No. 501 Squadron during the RAF's Circus offensive. Awarded the Distinguished Service Order, he was later a wing leader and served in the Middle East and Italy. He ended his service with the RAF in 1947. He died in 1975 at the age of 62.
Adrian Hope Boyd was born at Sialkot in British India (now Pakistan), on 1 January 1913. When he was thirteen-years-old, he joined the Royal Navy as a cadet. He graduated from the Naval College at Dartmouth in May 1930, and the next January was commissioned as a midshipman. He was promoted to acting sub-lieutenant in 1933, but subsequently resigned his commission in May the following year.
Boyd joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in July 1936, being granted a short service commission. Appointed an acting pilot officer on probation in September, he proceeded to No. 2 Flying Training School at Digby. After gaining his wings, Boyd was posted to No. 65 Squadron in May 1937. His new unit, based at Hornchurch, was equipped with the Gloster Gladiator fighter. He was involved in a flying accident on 11 February 1938; one of a trio of fighters making unauthorised mock attacks on a fourth fighter, two aircraft collided, killing a pilot. He was promoted to flying officer in January 1939.
In October 1939, and with the Second World War now underway, Boyd was promoted to the rank of acting flight lieutenant and posted to No. 145 Squadron as one of its flight commanders. The squadron was based at Croydon and operated the Bristol Blenheim aircraft in a day/night fighter role but in March 1940, the squadron converted to the Hawker Hurricane fighter.
A week after the invasion of France on 10 May 1940, No. 145 Squadron began carrying out sorties to France, supporting the fighter squadrons there in helping to cover the retreat of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). On 22 May Boyd destroyed three Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers near Saint-Omer, although one of these was unconfirmed. Towards the end of the month his squadron helped provide aerial cover for the evacuation of the BEF and on 27 May Boyd destroyed two Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighters near Dunkirk. He shot down another two Bf 110s later the same day but these were not able to be verified. The following day he was shot down himself into the sea off the evacuation beaches but was picked up and returned to the squadron. On 1 June, he destroyed one Bf 110 and damaged a second to the north of Dunkirk, and also shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter in the same area.
Once the evacuation of the BEF was completed, No. 145 Squadron relocated to No. 11 Group's station at Tangmere. Boyd, who had briefly commanded the squadron in an acting capacity for a few days in mid-June, was recognised for his successes in the fighting over France with an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on 21 June. The citation, published in The London Gazette, read:
During a period of fourteen days Flight Lieutenant Boyd was engaged on offensive patrols almost every day. He has destroyed at least six enemy aircraft and severely damaged several more. This officer has displayed courage and determination, often attacking superior forces, and has pressed home his attacks in every case.
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Adrian Boyd
Adrian Boyd, DSO, DFC & Bar (1 January 1913 – 21 January 1975) was a British flying ace who served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He was credited with having shot down at least eighteen aircraft.
Born in Sialkot in British India, Boyd's initial military service was with the Royal Navy, from which he resigned in 1934. Two years later he joined the RAF, serving with No. 65 Squadron once he completed his flying training. Soon after the outbreak of the Second World War, Boyd was posted to No. 145 Squadron which operated Hawker Hurricane fighters. He flew during the Battle of France and achieved a number of aerial victories for which he was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). Further successes followed during the Battle of Britain, including five aerial victories in one day on 8 August 1940. The recipient of a Bar to the DFC, he was rested from duties in November and spent several months as an instructor before returning to operations with a posting as commander of No. 501 Squadron during the RAF's Circus offensive. Awarded the Distinguished Service Order, he was later a wing leader and served in the Middle East and Italy. He ended his service with the RAF in 1947. He died in 1975 at the age of 62.
Adrian Hope Boyd was born at Sialkot in British India (now Pakistan), on 1 January 1913. When he was thirteen-years-old, he joined the Royal Navy as a cadet. He graduated from the Naval College at Dartmouth in May 1930, and the next January was commissioned as a midshipman. He was promoted to acting sub-lieutenant in 1933, but subsequently resigned his commission in May the following year.
Boyd joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in July 1936, being granted a short service commission. Appointed an acting pilot officer on probation in September, he proceeded to No. 2 Flying Training School at Digby. After gaining his wings, Boyd was posted to No. 65 Squadron in May 1937. His new unit, based at Hornchurch, was equipped with the Gloster Gladiator fighter. He was involved in a flying accident on 11 February 1938; one of a trio of fighters making unauthorised mock attacks on a fourth fighter, two aircraft collided, killing a pilot. He was promoted to flying officer in January 1939.
In October 1939, and with the Second World War now underway, Boyd was promoted to the rank of acting flight lieutenant and posted to No. 145 Squadron as one of its flight commanders. The squadron was based at Croydon and operated the Bristol Blenheim aircraft in a day/night fighter role but in March 1940, the squadron converted to the Hawker Hurricane fighter.
A week after the invasion of France on 10 May 1940, No. 145 Squadron began carrying out sorties to France, supporting the fighter squadrons there in helping to cover the retreat of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). On 22 May Boyd destroyed three Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers near Saint-Omer, although one of these was unconfirmed. Towards the end of the month his squadron helped provide aerial cover for the evacuation of the BEF and on 27 May Boyd destroyed two Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighters near Dunkirk. He shot down another two Bf 110s later the same day but these were not able to be verified. The following day he was shot down himself into the sea off the evacuation beaches but was picked up and returned to the squadron. On 1 June, he destroyed one Bf 110 and damaged a second to the north of Dunkirk, and also shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter in the same area.
Once the evacuation of the BEF was completed, No. 145 Squadron relocated to No. 11 Group's station at Tangmere. Boyd, who had briefly commanded the squadron in an acting capacity for a few days in mid-June, was recognised for his successes in the fighting over France with an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on 21 June. The citation, published in The London Gazette, read:
During a period of fourteen days Flight Lieutenant Boyd was engaged on offensive patrols almost every day. He has destroyed at least six enemy aircraft and severely damaged several more. This officer has displayed courage and determination, often attacking superior forces, and has pressed home his attacks in every case.
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