The Airmen's Stories - F/O P D McL Down

Peter Derrick McLeod Down was born on 27th March 1916 in Dorking, Surrey and joined the RAF on a short service commission in May 1937.

He was posted to 9 FTS Hullavington on 17th July and joined 56 Squadron at North Weald on 19th February 1938. He was in the squadron's aerobatic team before the war.

On 16th May 1940 Down went with 'B' Flight to Vitry-en-Artois to support the squadrons in France. He destroyed a He111 east of Cambrai on the 17th and damaged another. The flight was withdrawn to England after four days.

Above: 56 Squadron

F/O L Eriminsky, F/O P Down, F/O I Soden, F/O J Coghlan, F/O P Illingworth, F/O F Rose, F/O ML Hulton-Harrop, F/O E Holden

On 18th August Down claimed a Me110 destroyed and a Me109 on the 28th. He was posted away from 56 Squadron on 20th September to instruct at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge.

Down went to the Middle East in December 1941 and commanded 112 Squadron at Gambut in April/May 1942. He returned to the UK in mid-1943, was later at 2 FIS Montrose and became CFI at 5 ATS Tern Hill in November 1943.

At some time he married Pamela Violet Warneford after becoming engaged in September 1942.

He was released from the RAF in 1945 as a Squadron Leader.

Down died on 20th November 2006 in Surrey.