Paul Richey

Paul Richey, DFC & Bar (7 May 1916 – 23 February 1989) was a flying ace who served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He was credited with having shot down at least ten aircraft. He also wrote a well received book, Fighter Pilot, covering No. 1 Squadron's involvement in the Battle of France.

Born in Chelsea, Richey joined the RAF in 1937 and once his training was completed was posted to No. 1 Squadron. Sent to France on the outbreak of the Second World War, he flew extensively during the Battle of France and achieved several aerial victories until he was wounded in action. Repatriated to the United Kingdom, after a period of service as a fighter controller and then an instructor, he returned to operational flying in April 1941 with a posting to No. 609 Squadron. Flying on sorties to occupied France during the Circus offensive, he shot down several more aircraft. Later in the year he briefly commanded No. 74 Squadron. His account of No. 1 Squadron's service during the Battle of France was published in mid-1941 as Fighter Pilot. It sold well and brought Richey to the attention of Air Marshal Sir William Sholto-Douglas, who arranged a posting to the headquarters of Fighter Command. In early 1942 Richey was sent to No. 56 Squadron to fly as a supernumerary pilot, and later in the year became commander of his former unit, No. 609 Squadron. In October he was promoted to wing commander and sent to British India. He commanded No. 189 Wing in the Imphal Valley for several months before being repatriated to the United Kingdom in February 1944 for health reasons. He served in staff postings for the remainder of the war.

In the postwar period, Richey worked in the petroleum industry and then as an aviation correspondent. He returned to military service in 1948, joining the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and soon commanding No. 601 Squadron. He retired from the military in 1958. A recipient of a bravery award the following year for rescuing a woman from drowning, he spent much of the remainder of his life in France. He died in 1989, aged 72. An incomplete manuscript of his wartime experiences following the Battle of France was found among his papers and, finished by Norman Franks, was published in 1993 as Fighter Pilot's Summer.

Paul Henry Mills Richey was born on 7 May 1916 in the United Kingdom, in the London suburb of Chelsea. Portions of his childhood were spent abroad; firstly in Albania where his father, George Richey, a former British Army officer, was involved in the training of the police force there, and then at a boarding school in Switzerland. He also went to school at Downside School in Bath where one of his fellow pupils was the future flying ace Michael Robinson. Once his schooling was completed, he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) on a short service commission in March 1937. His commission as an acting pilot officer was granted on 18 May.

After Richey's flight training was completed, he was posted to No. 1 Squadron in 1938. At the time of his posting, the squadron was based at Tangmere and operated the Hawker Hurricane fighter.

On the outbreak of the Second World War, No. 1 Squadron was deployed to France as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force. By October it was operating from Vassincourt and patrolling the French-German border, occasionally engaging the Luftwaffe, although Richey made no claims during this time. He was promoted to flying officer on 4 January 1940. On 29 March, Richey achieved his first aerial victory, destroying a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter near Saarburg.

When the German invasion of France commenced on 10 May, No. 1 Squadron was heavily engaged and over the following weeks began to retreat, repeatedly shifting from airfield to airfield. Richey shared in the destruction of a Dornier Do 17 medium bomber over Longwy on the opening day of the invasion and this was followed on 11 May with his shooting down of a pair of Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighters near Brunehamel. He had earlier in the day claimed a Do 17 as destroyed but this was not verified. Shot down the same day, he was able to quickly rejoin his squadron. He destroyed two more Bf 110s on 15 May but again was subsequently shot down later in the day. Once more making his way back to his unit, he resumed flying duties.

On 19 May Richey intercepted and destroyed three Heinkel He 111 medium bombers near Château-Thierry but was wounded by the defensive armament of one or more of the bombers that he had targeted. He survived the subsequent crash-landing of his Hurricane and was repatriated to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.