Christopher McEvoy

Christopher McEvoy
Christopher McEvoy
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.

Contents

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 0948817194, 9780948817199.
  • The Aeroplane, Volume 85. Temple Press, 1953. ISBN unknown

Endnotes

  1. ^ Shores, et al, p. 272.
  2. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/mcevoy.php Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  3. ^ Shores, et al, pp. 272-273.)
  4. ^ (Supplement to the Edinburgh Gazette, 23 September 1918, p. 3535.) http://www.edinburgh-gazette.co.uk/issues/13325/pages/3535 Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  5. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/mcevoy.php Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  6. ^ Shores, et al, p. 273.
  7. ^ (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.
  8. ^ Shores, et al, p. 273.
  9. ^ (The London Gazette, 13 September 1940, p. 5495.) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34945/pages/5495 Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  10. ^ Shores, et al, p. 273.
  11. ^ (The Aeroplane, Volume 85, p. 584.) http://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.
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