Tony Lovell

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Anthony Desmond Joseph Lovell
Portrait of Lovell, made by Cuthbert Orde in 1941
Nickname(s)'Tony'
Born(1919-08-09)9 August 1919
Ceylon
Died17 August 1945(1945-08-17) (aged 26)
Old Sarum, England
Buried
Portrush Cemetery
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1937–1945
RankWing Commander
Service number40402
Commands heldNo. 244 Wing RAF (1943–44)
No. 1435 Squadron RAF (1942–43)
No. 145 Squadron RAF (1941–42)
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsDistinguished Service Order & Bar
Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)

Anthony Lovell, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar (9 August 1919 – 17 August 1945) was a fighter pilot and flying ace of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He served in the Battle of Britain, on Malta, and over France but was killed in a flying accident shortly after the war in Europe had ended.

Early life[edit]

Anthony Desmond Joseph Lovell was born on 9 August 1919 in Ceylon, British india. His parents, Stuart C. A. Lovell and Clare Mary Lovell, were from Portrush, Northern Ireland. He was educated in England, at Ampleforth College. In 1937, he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) on a short service commission, commencing his training on 25 October.[1] Completing this initial phase of training, he was commissioned as acting pilot officer on 9 January 1938.[2] He proceeded onto No. 6 Flying Training School at RAF Netheravon for flight instruction upon completion of which, later the same year, he was posted to No. 41 Squadron.[1] At the time Lovell joined the squadron, it was operating Supermarine Spitfire fighters from RAF Catterick.[3] His pilot officer rank was confirmed on 25 October.[4]

Second World War[edit]

At the time of the outbreak of the Second World War, Lovell was serving at Sector Headquarters, Catterick on secondment. It was not until November that he rejoined No. 41 Squadron.[1] It was still based at Catterick and mostly engaged in protective cover for shipping convoys as well as patrols on the east coast. The squadron moved south to RAF Hornchurch on 28 May 1940 and began to operate over Dunkirk, helping cover the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from the beaches there.[3] By this time, Lovell was a flying officer, having been promoted to this rank a few days earlier.[5]

Battle of Britain[edit]

Over Dunkirk on 31 May 1940 Lovell shared the destruction of a Heinkel He 111 medium bomber. The next day, he again shared in the shooting down of a He 111. After two weeks operating over Dunkirk, No. 41 Squadron returned to Catterick. Flying from here on 8 July, Lovell shared in the destruction of a Junkers Ju 86 medium bomber to the southeast of Scarborough. The squadron went back to Hornchurch in late July.[3][6]

In combat off Dover on 28 July, Lovell was attacked by a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter reportedly flown by Luftwaffe flying ace Werner Mölders of JG 51 and crashed on landing at RAF Manston. Lovell had been wounded in the thigh and was admitted to Margate Hospital. He returned to his squadron on recovery and on 15 August, near Barnard Castle, shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter and probably destroyed a second. On 5 September he was shot down over the Thames Estuary but baled out of his Spitfire unhurt. His aircraft crashed and burned out at South Benfleet. The next day, he shot down a Bf 109 to the north of Manston. By this time he was commanding one of the squadron's flights in an acting capacity.[1][6]

On 15 September, what is now known as Battle of Britain Day, to the southeast of Canterbury, Lovell destroyed a Bf 109. The same day, he also probably destroyed a Bf 109 near Hornchurch. At the end of the month he damaged a Dornier Do 17 medium bomber near Hastings. On 1 October, with his position as flight commander made permanent, he shot down a Bf 109 near Canterbury. He destroyed another Bf 109 on 20 October. Another Bf 109 was damaged on 30 October, Lovell flying a new Spitfire Mk II.[6] He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the public announcement being made on 26 November. The published citation read:

This officer has flown continuously on active operations against the enemy since war began. He has shown a fine fighting spirit and has led his flight and on occasions his squadron with great courage, coolness and determination. He has destroyed seven enemy aircraft.

— London Gazette, No. 35001, 26 November 1940[7]

Becoming a fighter controller for a period of rest he was promoted acting flight lieutenant on 25 May 1941.[8] Lovell was promoted flight lieutenant on 25 October 1941,[9] In October 1941 Lovell was given command of No. 145 Squadron RAF as acting squadron leader transferring to the Middle East with his squadron in spring 1942 but soon resigned his command in Egypt completely frustrated by the lack of aircraft for his squadron. On 10 February 1942 he was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross as acting squadron leader commanding with No. 145 Squadron RAF. The published citation read:

This officer is a fearless and skilful fighter pilot. His keenness to engage the enemy, combined with fine leadership, both in the air and on the ground have set an inspiring example. In November 1941 Squadron Leader Lovell shot down a Junkers Ju 88 some 35 miles off the Yorkshire coast. In January 1942 in the same area and in difficult weather conditions he intercepted another Junkers Ju 88 and shot it down into the sea. This officer has personally destroyed at least 11 hostile aircraft and has damaged others.

— London Gazette, No. 35451, 10 February 1942[10]
Spitfire in Malta camouflage

Siege of Malta[edit]

He was quickly posted back into action, to Malta in July 1942 to join No. 603 Squadron RAF and promoted temporary squadron leader on 1 June 1942.[11] When the squadron was disbanded on 3 August 1942 it was partly incorporated into No. 1435 Flight RAF to form a full squadron with Lovell in command.[1]

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 30 October 1942 as squadron leader commanding a fighter squadron during the Battle of Malta. His citation read:

This officer is an outstanding squadron commander who has played a considerable part in the defence of Malta. One day in October 1942 he led his squadron in an attack against six Junkers Ju 88s escorted by a number of fighters. In the combat Squadron Leader Lovell shot down a Junkers Ju 88 bringing his total victories to nine. On many occasions his skilful leadership has enabled his squadron to intercept enemy air formations bent on attacking Malta. This officer's gallantry and determination have set an example worthy of the highest praise.

— London Gazette, No. 35768, 30 October 1942[12]

Later war service[edit]

After a rest at the beginning of 1943—during which he served as a fighter controller—Lovell was appointed to No. 242 Group as acting wing commander and was promoted full squadron leader on 9 April 1943.[13] He led No. 322 Wing over Corsica and then No. 244 Wing during the invasion of Italy and the South of France.[14] He was awarded the American Distinguished Flying Cross on 14 November 1944.[15]

On 23 February 1945 Lovell was awarded a Bar to his DSO.[16] As the war came to an end Lovell was serving as chief flight instructor at No. 71 Operational Training Unit at Ismailia. He returned to England in June and the following month was posted to the RAF School of Air Support at Old Sarum. On 17 August 1945 Lovell was killed when he crashed into a field adjoining Old Sarum airfield having lost height while performing aerobatics in a Spitfire.[1] He is buried at Portrush Cemetery in County Antrim.[17] He had a brother, Stuart, who also served in the RAF during the war; he was killed on 29 January 1944 flying a Hawker Typhoon fighter on a sortie to Brest in France. [1]

Lovell is credited with destroying 22 aircraft, six being shared with other pilots. He is also believed to have probably destroyed two aircraft, damaged thirteen, including four shared, as well as one destroyed on the ground. His successes were accomplished during five operational tours.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "The Airmen's Stories – F/Lt. A D J Lovell". Battle of Britain London Monument. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  2. ^ "No. 34476". The London Gazette. 25 January 1938. p. 517.
  3. ^ a b c Rawlings 1976, pp. 106–108.
  4. ^ "No. 34566". The London Gazette. 1 November 1938. p. 6820.
  5. ^ "No. 34881". The London Gazette. 25 June 1940. p. 3865.
  6. ^ a b c d Shores & Williams 1994, pp. 406–407.
  7. ^ "No. 35001". The London Gazette. 26 November 1940. p. 6754.
  8. ^ "No. 35217". The London Gazette. 11 July 1941. p. 3996.
  9. ^ "No. 36514". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 May 1944. p. 2230.
  10. ^ "No. 35451". The London Gazette. 10 February 1942. p. 663.
  11. ^ "No. 35736". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 October 1942. p. 4385.
  12. ^ "No. 35768". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 October 1942. p. 4753.
  13. ^ "No. 36104". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 July 1943. p. 3329.
  14. ^ Spitfire Aces of North Africa and Italy, p.75
  15. ^ "No. 36793". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 November 1944. p. 5211.
  16. ^ "No. 36954". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 February 1945. p. 1071.
  17. ^ "Casualty Details: Wing Commander Anthony Desmond Joseph Lovell". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 12 May 2024.

Bibliography[edit]

  • 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.
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