Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Part-time pilot who helped win Battle of Britain
Robert Findlay Boyd was decorated for his deeds
Eighty years ago yesterday (September 15), the Battle of Britain was being fought in the skies above our country as the RAF sought to defend Britain from Nazi attack.
Airmen who joined the RAF as part-time reservists played a vital role in winning the battle.
One of them was a Lanarkshire pilot who flew with the RAF in his spare-time before the war and became one of the highest-scoring RAF fighter pilots of the battle, shooting down 12 enemy aircraft and scored the fastest RAF victory of the war.
Robert Findlay Boyd joined No 602 ( City of Glasgow) Squadron in 1935 and learnt to fly at weekends. He served with the squadron throughout the Battle of Britain.
His kills included destroying two Me109 fighters on August 25 and on September 4 he despatched a Me109 and a Do17 bomber.
One of his victories was achieved just seconds after taking off.
On August 16, 1940, RAF Tangmere came under fierce attack from German Ju87 Stuka dive- bombers and Me109 fighters.
Flight Lieutenant Boyd was among those flying Spitfires of 602 Squadron scrambled to protect the airfield.
Before his undercarriage had folded away, he fired at a Stuka, forcing it to crash. Robert circled the airfield and landed. He had been airborne for less than one minute.
He was awarded the DFC on September 24, 1940 and a Bar on October 25, 1940.
His citation told of his: “Cool l judgment and a keen desire to o engage the enemy irrespective e of the odds against him.”
In the years following the e war, Boyd flew charter flights s for Scottish Aviation after r leaving the RAF and later r became a farmer before e moving to the Isle of Skye, , where he became the landlord d of the Ferry Inn at Uig. He died in 1975.
The Battle of Britain saw civilians and Armed Forces s personnel like Flt Lt Boyd d from across the UK come e together with aircrew from the Commonwealth and other r allied countries to enable the e RAF’s victory in the battle.
His squadron still operates s today as part of the Royal l Auxiliary Air Force, which h recruits men and women who o add to the strength of the Royal al Air Force in their spare-time. .
Before his undercarriage had folded away he fired at a Stuka, forcing it to crash