Peter Ayerst
Peter Vigne Ayerst, Distinguished [Flying Cross |DFC] was a Royal Air force officer and flying ace of the Second World War. He was the last surviving RAF [Advanced Air Striking Force|No. 73 Squadron] pilot and test pilot from Castle Bromwich Aerodrome.
Early life
Ayerst was born on 4 November 1920 in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England. He was educated at Westcliff [High School for Boys], a state grammar school in his home town.Military career
Ayerst was commissioned into the Royal Air Force on 14 December 1938 as an acting pilot officer on probation. In August 1939, he was posted to No. 73 Squadron to fly Hurricanes. He was regraded to pilot officer on probation on 3 September 1939 and his commission was confirmed on 6 October 1939.He was sent to France with the squadron and scored his first victory in April 1940. After a spell instructing, when he shared in the destruction of a Heinkel He 111 medium bomber with two other pilots, he had postings with both No. [145 Squadron RAF|Nos. 145] and 243 Squadrons.
In July 1942 he went to North Africa with No. [33 Squadron RAF|No. 33 Squadron], before being promoted to flight commander with No. 238 Squadron, both postings with further combat success. After a period in South Africa, he returned to the UK, joining No. [124 Squadron RAF|No. 124 Squadron] flying Supermarine [Spitfire variants part two#Mk VII.28type 351.29|Spitfire Mk VIIs] in defence of the invasion ports, where he scored his final victory; then flew Spitfire Mk IXs on bomber escorts to Germany. He later became a Spitfire test pilot at Castle Bromwich with the instruction of Alex Henshaw. In November 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Ayerst's final victory tally stood at five aircraft destroyed, two of which were shared with other pilots, one aircraft probably destroyed, three damaged and two further destroyed on the ground. After the war, Ayerst became one of the most highly regarded wartime instructors in the RAF.