Christopher McEvoy

Christopher McEvoy, DFC (2 February 1899 – 12 October 1953) was a British aviator and flying ace, credited with nine aerial victories during the First World War.

Christopher McEvoy
Born(1899-01-02)2 January 1899
Hendon, Middlesex, England
Died12 October 1953(1953-10-12) (aged 54)
Dorking, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Royal Flying Corps
RankFlight Lieutenant
UnitNo. 66 Squadron RAF
No. 37 (Home Defence) Squadron RAF
Battles/warsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross
RelationsSir Theodore McEvoy (brother)

Early life

Christopher McEvoy was born in Cricklewood, North London on 2 February 1899. He was the first-born son of The Reverend Cuthbert McEvoy and his wife Margaret.[1][2]

First World War

When old enough, 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. 37(Home Defence) Squadron.[1] He was awarded 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.[3]

List of aerial victories
See also: Aerial victory standards of World War I
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[2][1]

Second World War and beyond

McEvoy returned to service in the Second World War, being appointed a temporary pilot officer on probation on 1 September 1939.[4] He served in the rank of flight lieutenant as a codes officer for RAF Coastal Command.[1] 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.[5]

Christopher McEvoy died at Dorking, England on 12 October 1953 following a prolonged illness.[1][6]

References
  1. Shores, Christopher; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell (1990). Above the Trenches : A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces, 1915–1920. Grub Street. pp. 272–273. ISBN 978-0919195110.
  2. "Christopher McEvoy". The Aerodrome. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  3. "No. 13325". The Edinburgh Gazette. 23 September 1918. p. 3535.
  4. "No. 34694". The London Gazette. 26 September 1939. pp. 6507–6508.
  5. "No. 34945". The London Gazette. 13 September 1940. p. 5495.
  6. "Death". The Aeroplane. Vol. 85. Temple Press. 1953. p. 584. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
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