Archibald Winskill
| Sir Archibald Winskill | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Archibald Little Winskill |
| Nickname(s) | Archie |
| Born |
24 January 1917 Penrith, Cumberland, England |
| Died | 9 August 2005 (aged 88) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1937-1968 |
| Rank |
 Air Commodore
|
| Service number | 740365 (airman) 84702 (officer) |
| Commands held | |
| Battles/wars |
World War II *Battle of Britain *Battle of Europe *Tunisia Campaign Cold War |
| Awards |
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar |
| Spouse(s) | Christiane Bailleux |
| Other work | Captain of the Queen's Flight (1968-1982) |
Air Commodore Sir Archibald Little 'Archie' Winskill KCVO CBE DFC* AE (24 January 1917 - 9 August 2005) was a British Royal Air Force officer. He flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain and evaded capture twice during World War II on two different continents. After the war, he held a number of appointment in different parts of the world. After retiring from the RAF, he became Captain of the Queen's Flight.
Winskill was born on 24 January 1917 in Penrith, Cumberland, to James Winskill. He was educated at Penrith and Carlisle Grammar Schools.
In 1937 Winskill joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and trained as a pilot. Following the outbreak of World War II, he was mobilised in September 1939. Between September 1939 and June 1940, he served as a staff pilot at RAF Catfoss. He was commissioned on 25 August 1940 as a pilot officer (on probation) with seniority from 15 August 1940.
Having trained to fly Spitfires, he was posted to No. 72 Squadron RAF on 4 October 1940. He moved to No. 603 Squadron RAF based at RAF Hornchurch on 17 October. He flew in the Battle of Britain. Shortly after joining 603 Squadron, he scored his first aerial victory when he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 over Dungeness, Kent, on 29 October 1940. In November, he shared in the destruction of a Heinkel He 111 with two other pilots from his squadron. On 23 November, he shot down two Fiat CR.42 fighters; it was one of the few air raids made on England by the Italian Air Force.
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