Tony Lovell
Anthony Desmond Joseph Lovell | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Tony |
Born |
Ceylon | 9 August 1919
Died |
17 August 1945 26) Old Sarum | (aged
Buried at | Portrush Cemetery, |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1937–1945 |
Rank | Wing Commander |
Battles/wars | Second World War |
Awards |
Distinguished Service Order & Bar Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Distinguished Flying Cross (US) |
Anthony Desmond Joseph Lovell, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar (9 August 1919 – 17 August 1945) was a Royal Air Force Second World War fighter ace. He served in the Battle of Britain, Malta, and France.[1]
Early life
He was the son of Stuart C. A. Lovell and of Clare Mary Lovell, of Portrush, Northern Ireland. It had been expected that he would train for the Roman Catholic priesthood but directly upon graduation from Ampleforth College[2] he joined the Royal Air Force.[3]
Royal Air Force service
Lovell joined the RAF on a short service commission in November 1937 and was commissioned acting pilot officer on 9 January 1938,[4] graduating from No, 6 Flying Training School at RAF Netheravon he was posted to No. 41 Squadron RAF at RAF Catterick on 20 August 1938 flying Supermarine Spitfire Mark Ia[5] fighters and confirmed pilot officer on 25 October 1938.[6] He was promoted flying officer on 25 May 1940.[7]
Over Dunkirk on 31 May 1940 he shared the destruction of a Heinkel He 111 bomber and on 1 June 1940 he shared another. On 8 July 1940 Lovell claimed a Ju 86. In combat off Dover on 28 July 1940, he was attacked by a Messerschmitt Bf 109 reportedly flown by leading Luftwaffe fighter ace Werner Mölders of JG 51 and crashed on landing at RAF Manston. Lovell had been wounded in the thigh and was admitted to Margate Hospital. On 5 September 1940 he was shot down over the Thames Estuary and baled out unhurt. His Supermarine Spitfire (serial number "R 6885") crashed and burned out at South Benfleet.[8] Lovell was appointed to command "B" Flight in October 1940 at RAF Hornchurch. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 26 November 1940 as a flight lieutenant flying with No. 41 Squadron RAF.[9]
His citation states:
This officer has flown continuously on active operations against the enemy since war began. He has shown a fine fighting spirit and has led his flight and on occasions his squadron with great courage, coolness and determination. He has destroyed seven enemy aircraft.
Becoming a fighter controller for a period of rest he was promoted acting flight lieutenant on 25 May 1941.[10] Lovell was promoted flight lieutenant on 25 October 1941,[11] In October 1941 Lovell was given command of No. 145 Squadron RAF as acting squadron leader transferring to the Middle East with his squadron in spring 1942 but soon resigned his command in Egypt completely frustrated by the lack of aircraft for his squadron. On 10 February 1942 he was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross as acting squadron leader commanding with No. 145 Squadron RAF.[12]
His citation states:
This officer is a fearless and skilful fighter pilot. His keenness to engage the enemy, combined with fine leadership, both in the air and on the ground have set an inspiring example. In November 1941 Squadron Leader Lovell shot down a Junkers Ju 88 some 35 miles off the Yorkshire coast. In January 1942 in the same area and in difficult weather conditions he intercepted another Junkers Ju 88 and shot it down into the sea. This officer has personally destroyed at least 11 hostile aircraft and has damaged others.
He was quickly posted back into action, to Malta in July 1942 to join No. 603 Squadron RAF and promoted temporary squadron leader on 1 June 1942,.[13] When the squadron was disbanded on 3 August 1942 it was partly incorporated into No. 1435 Flight RAF to form a full Squadron with Lovell in command.[14]
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 30 October 1942 as squadron leader commanding a fighter squadron during the Battle of Malta.[15]
His citation states:
This officer is an outstanding squadron commander who has played a considerable part in the defence of Malta. One day in October 1942 he led his squadron in an attack against six Junkers Ju 88s escorted by a number of fighters. In the combat Squadron Leader Lovell shot down a Junkers Ju 88 bringing his total victories to nine. On many occasions his skilful leadership has enabled his squadron to intercept enemy air formations bent on attacking Malta. This officer's gallantry and determination have set an example worthy of the highest praise.
After a rest at the beginning of 1943 during which he served as a fighter controller he was appointed to lead the 242 Group as acting Wing Commander promoted full squadron leader on 9 April 1943.[16] and led the 322 Wing over Corsica and then 244 Wing during the invasion of Italy and the South of France.[17] He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (US) on 14 November 1944 as acting wing commander.[18] His brother Stuart was killed on active service with the RAF in 1944[19] On 23 February 1945 he was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order as a Wing Commander and fighter leader.[20]
As the war came to an end Lovell was serving as chief flight instructor at No. 71 Operational Training Unit at Ismailia, he returned to England in June 1945 and in July 1945 joined the RAF School of Air Support at Old Sarum.[8]
His success as an air ace is recorded by eminent air warfare scholars Chris Shores and Clive Williams as 16 enemy aircraft destroyed, 6 shared destroyed, 2 probably destroyed, 9 damaged, 4 shared damaged and 1 destroyed on the ground. This was accomplished during 5 operational tours.[21]
Death
On 17 August 1945 Lovell was killed when he crashed into a field adjoining Old Sarum airfield having lost altitude whilst doing acrobatics in a Spitfire Mark XII (serial number "EN234").[22][23]
Bibliography
- Franks, Norman (1997). Royal Air Force Fighter Command Losses, Volume 1. Earl Shilton: Midland Counties. ISBN 1-857800559.
- Shores, Christopher (1994). Aces High. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-898697-00-0.
- Foreman, John (2003). RAF Fighter Command Victory Claims, Part One. Walton-on-Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 0-9538061-8-9.
- Foreman, John (1988). Battle of Britain - the forgotten months. New Malden: Air Research. ISBN 1871187028.
- Mason, Francis (1969). Battle Over Britain. London: McWhirter Brothers. ISBN 0-901928-00-3.
- Foreman, John (1996). The Fighter Command War Diaries. Walton-on-Thames: Air Research. ISBN 1-871187-34-6.
- Shores, Christopher (1999). Aces High, Volume 2. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-898697-00-0.
- Wynn, Kenneth (1989). Men of the Battle of Britain. Norfolk: Gliddon. ISBN 1473847672.
- Ramsey, Winston (1989). Battle of Britain: Then and Now -V. London: After The Battle. ISBN 0-900913-46-0.
- Ramsey, Winston (1989). The Blitz: Then and Now –Volume 2. London: After The Battle. ISBN 0-900913-54-1.
- Foreman, John (2005). RAF Fighter Command Victory Claims, Part Two. Walton-on-Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 0-9546201-5-1.
References
- ↑ "Airfield Aviation Ltd". airfieldaviation.com. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- ↑ Ampleforth College - W/Cdr ADJ Lovell
- ↑ Airfield Aviation - Article on ADJ Lovell
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34476. p. 517. 25 January 1938.
- ↑ BravoBravoAviation - Tony Lovell's Spitfire
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34566. p. 6820. 1 November 1938.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34881. p. 3865. 25 June 1940.
- 1 2 Shores (1994), p.406
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 35001. p. 6754. 26 November 1940.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 35217. p. 3996. 11 July 1941.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36514. p. 2230. 12 May 1944.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 35451. p. 663. 10 February 1942.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35736. p. 4385. 6 October 1942.
- ↑ WW2 Awards website - W/Cdr ADJ Lovell
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35768. p. 4753. 30 October 1942.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36104. p. 3329. 20 July 1943.
- ↑ Spitfire Aces of North Africa and Italy, p.75
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36793. p. 5211. 10 November 1944.
- ↑ Reading Room Manchester. "CWGC - Casualty Details". cwgc.org. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36954. p. 1071. 20 February 1945.
- ↑ Shores (1994), p.406-407
- ↑ AirfieldAviation - Article on ADJ Lovell
- ↑ Reading Room Manchester. "CWGC - Casualty Details". cwgc.org. Retrieved 18 January 2014.