Christopher McEvoy
| Christopher McEvoy | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 January 1899 |
| Died | 12 October 1953 |
| Allegiance | England |
| Service/branch | Aviation |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 66 Squadron RAF, No. 39 (Home Defence) Squadron RAF |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Relations | Younger brother was Air Chief Marshal Theodore McEvoy |
Lieutenant Christopher McEvoy was an English flying ace credited with nine aerial victories during World War I. Despite poor health, he would gallantly serve his nation in both World Wars before his early death.
Early life
Christopher McEvoy was born in Cricklewood, North London on the second day of 1899. He was the first-born son[1] of The Reverend Cuthbert McEvoy and his wife Margaret.[2]
World War I
When old enough, Christopher McEvoy joined the Royal Flying Corps. In January 1918, he was assigned to No. 66 Squadron in Italy as a pilot. He was slightly wounded the following month, and hospitalized for a short while. On 30 March 1918, he scored his first aerial victory; by 1 August, he had run his tally of victories to nine. Illness then removed him from the cockpit; he was medically evacuated back to England with dysentery. After recovery, he served in No. 39 (Home Defence) Squadron.[3] He was rewarded for his pains with the Distinguished Flying Cross, gazetted on 23 September 1918:
"A gallant pilot who has destroyed six enemy machines in a few months. He displays great determination in his attacks in high or low flying, and in bombing attacks over the enemy's lines."[4]
Actually, the award gives McEvoy a short count, as can be seen below.
List of aerial victories
| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 March 1918 @ 1315 hours | Sopwith Camel serial number B7389 | Albatros D.III | Driven down out of control | Monte Melatta | |
| 2 | 4 April 1918 @ 0920 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n B7389 | Albatros D.III | Set afire; destroyed | Cismon del Grappa | |
| 3 | 17 April 1918 @ 1420 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n B7389 | Albatros D.III | Destroyed | South of Giacomo | |
| 4 | 26 May 1918 @ 0615 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n B7353 | Reconnaissance plane | Destroyed | Salina | Victory shared with Harold Koch Boysen |
| 5 | 21 June 1918 @ 0805 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n B5180 | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Feltre | |
| 6 | 4 July 1918 @ 0815 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n D8235 | Pfalz D.III | Set afire; destroyed | Northwest of Asiago | |
| 7 | 21 July 1918 @ 1915 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n B2433 | Albatros D.V | Destroyed | Motta di Livenza | |
| 8 | 1 August 1918 @ 1155 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n B2433 | Albatros D.V | Destroyed | South of Mareno-C Tron | |
| 9 | 1 August 1918 @ 1210 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n B2433 | Albatros D.V | Destroyed | Fontaneletto[5][6] | |
World War II and beyond
McEvoy's life during the period between the World Wars is unknown. However, McEvoy returned to service for World War II, being appointed a temporary Pilot Officer on probation on 1 September 1939.[7] He served in the rank of Flight Lieutenant as a codes officer for RAF Coastal Command.[8] It seems likely he got in some cockpit time, as he was still serving as a Pilot Officer when he surrendered his commission because of illness on 7 September 1940.[9]
Christopher McEvoy died at Dorking, England on 12 October 1953 following a prolonged illness.[10][11]
References
- Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Christopher F. Shores, Norman Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
- The Aeroplane, Volume 85. Temple Press, 1953. ISBN unknown
Endnotes
- ↑ Shores, et al, p. 272.
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/mcevoy.php Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ↑ Shores, et al, pp. 272-273.)
- ↑ (Supplement to the Edinburgh Gazette, 23 September 1918, p. 3535.) http://www.edinburgh-gazette.co.uk/issues/13325/pages/3535 Retrieved 25 August 2011.
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/mcevoy.php Retrieved 6 August 2011.
- ↑ Shores, et al, p. 273.
- ↑ (The London Gazette, 26 September 1939, pp. 6507-6508.) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34694/pages/6507; http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34694/pages/6508 Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ↑ Shores, et al, p. 273.
- ↑ (The London Gazette, 13 September 1940, p. 5495.) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34945/pages/5495 Retrieved 25 August 2011.
- ↑ Shores, et al, p. 273.
- ↑ (The Aeroplane, Volume 85, p. 584.) https://books.google.com/books?id=YgEnAAAAMAAJ&q=%22christopher+mcevoy%22&dq=%22christopher+mcevoy%22&hl=en&ei=lnNaTorbB6PXiALp2NGTCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CDwQ6AEwBTge Retrieved 28 August 2011.