Peter Ayerst

Peter Vigne Ayerst
Peter Vigne Ayerst
	Ayerst (bottom left) in France
Born	4 November 1920; Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
Died	15 May 2014 (aged 93)
Buried	Canterbury, Kent
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Rank	Wing Commander
Unit	No. 73 Squadron RAF
Battles/wars	Second World War
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross

Peter Vigne Ayerst, DFC (4 November 1920 – 15 May 2014)^[1] was a Royal Air force officer and flying ace of the Second World War.^[2] He was the last surviving No. 73 Squadron pilot and test pilot from Castle Bromwich Aerodrome.^[1]

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.^[3]

Military career

Ayerst was commissioned into the Royal Air Force on 14 December 1938 as an acting pilot officer on probation.^[4] In August 1939, he was posted to No. 73 Squadron RAF to fly Hurricanes.^[5] He was regraded to pilot officer on probation on 3 September 1939 and his commission was confirmed on 6 October 1939.^[6]

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 He 111 with two other instructors, he had postings with both 145 and 243 Squadrons.

In July 1942 he went to North Africa with 33 Squadron,^[5]^[7] before being promoted to flight commander with 238 Squadron, both postings with further combat success. After a period in South Africa, he returned to the UK, joining 124 Squadron flying Spitfire MkVIIs in defence of the invasion ports, where he scored his final victory; then flew Spitfire MkIXs on bomber escorts to Germany. He later became a Spitfire test pilot at Castle Bromwich with the instruction of Alex Henshaw.^[1] After the war, he became one of the most highly regarded wartime instructors in the RAF.^[8] His final victory tally stood at 5 destroyed, 1 probable, 3 damaged and 2 further destroyed on the ground.^{[citation needed]} In September 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.^[5]

Later life

Ayerst was involved in a biography about his military experience tilted Spirit of the Blue: A Fighter Pilot's Story. It was published 2004.^[7] He died on 15 May 2014 at the age of 93, and is buried in Canterbury, Kent.^[9]