Derek Boitel-Gill

In early April 1940, several months after the outbreak of the Second World War, Boitel-Gill was called up for service in the RAF as a flight lieutenant, having been promoted to this rank in April 1937 while in the RAFO.^[1][6] He was posted to No. 152 Squadron as one of its flight commanders.^[5] He was only here for a few weeks before being sent to No. 5 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Ashton Down for familiarisation with the Supermarine Spitfire fighter. Once he completed his conversion course, he was put on the instructing staff at the OTU to help train pilots on the Boulton-Paul Defiant two-man fighter.^[1][2]

Boitel-Gill returned to No. 152 Squadron in late July.^[1] The squadron was heavily engaged in the Battle of Britain, operating Spitfires from Warmwell and tasked with interception duties over the English Channel and along the southern coast of England.^[7] Boitel-Gill achieved his first aerial victory on 12 August, when he destroyed a Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber over the Isle of Wight. This was followed three days later with his destruction of a Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber and a pair of Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighters in the Portland region. In the afternoon of 18 August, now known as The Hardest Day, he was leading the squadron to the southeast of the Isle of Wight to intercept Ju 87s that had just attacked the airfield at Gosport and were flying back to France; he engaged and shot down one Ju 87, seeing it crash into the sea.^[5][8]

On 25 September Boitel-Gill destroyed a Ju 88 near Bournemouth and a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter over Portland. The next day he shot down a Ju 88 over the Isle of Wight. His last aerial victory was achieved on 19 October, when he and another pilot damaged a Ju 88 over Dorchester on 19 October.^[5] Three days later he was recognised for his successes in the fighting over England with an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). The citation, published in The London Gazette, read:

In August, 1940, this officer, as leader of his squadron, intercepted an enemy formation consisting of thirty bombers which were escorted by some ninety fighters. As a result of his skilful leadership five of the enemy aircraft were destroyed, of which number Flight Lieutenant Boitel-Gill destroyed three. A further three enemy aircraft were damaged in the conflict. On a previous occasion Flight Lieutenant Boitel-Gill destroyed a Junkers 88.

In November, Boitel-Gill was appointed commander of No. 152 Squadron.^[1] He was subsequently promoted to temporary squadron leader on 1 December.^[10] Although by this time the Luftwaffe's offensive campaign against England had slowed, the squadron continued in a defensive role until April 1941, at which time it shifted to Portreath. From here it was engaged in flying protective patrols over shipping convoys. In June, it began night-fighting duties but mid-month Boitel-Gill was posted away.^[1][7]

Assigned to No. 59 OTU at Crosby-on-Eden on instructing duties, Boitel-Gill was promoted to wing commander. On 18 September 1941, he fatally crashed a Hawker Hurricane fighter while performing circuits of the airfield at the OTU to provide its anti-aircraft gunners with target practice. According to a witness, he may not have allowed sufficient clearance when pulling out of a dive.^[1]

Cremated at West Norwood Cemetery and Crematorium, Boitel-Gill's remains were interred in the screen wall there.^[2][11] He is credited with the destruction of eight German aircraft, with a share in one damaged.^[5]

• Price, Alfred (1988) [1979]. Battle of Britain: The Hardest Day, 18 August. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-831-1.
• Rawlings, John (1976). Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: MacDonald & James. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
• Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994). Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-8-9869-7000.
• Wynn, Kenneth G. (2015). Men of the Battle of Britain: A Biographical Directory of the Few. Barnsley: Frontline Books. ISBN 978-1-39901-465-6.