Walter Churchill was educated at Sedbergh School, and in 1926 read Modern Languages at King's College, Cambridge.
14 Facts About Walter Churchill
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Walter Churchill then became an aeronautical engineer with Armstrong Siddeley Motors, Coventry, after which he started an aviation precision engineering company, Churchill Components Ltd, in 1937, which supplied machined parts such as exhaust valves for radial aero-engines to Armstrong Siddeley.
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Walter Churchill worked for Sir Frank Whittle, the jet-engine pioneer, and it machined compressor blades for the gas-turbine engines in the early 1940s.
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Walter Churchill was commissioned as a pilot officer in the Auxiliary Air Force on 11 January 1932 and appointed to No 605 Squadron.
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Walter Churchill was promoted to flight lieutenant in June 1937 and transferred from the AAF to the Auxiliary Air Force Reserve of Officers in January 1939.
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Walter Churchill was recalled to No 605 Squadron and full-time service in August 1939, and commanded the squadron from June to September 1940, when he was succeeded by Archie McKellar.
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Walter Churchill later served with No 3 Squadron and No 71 Squadron and took part in the Battle of Britain as a squadron leader.
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Walter Churchill was an 'ace' pilot credited with seven "kills", and was awarded a Distinguished Service Order and a Distinguished Flying Cross.
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Walter Churchill evaluated various makes of fighter aircraft for the RAF and played a key role in getting Spitfire aircraft to the defence of Malta.
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Walter Churchill arrived in Malta leading a formation of reinforcing Spitfires to protect the last vitally important convoy.
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Walter Churchill continued under the management of his wife, Joyce, and subsequently that of his second son, James.
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Walter Churchill undertook the tactical instruction of new pilots, led many patrols successfully and organised his ground defences and crews in an exemplary manner.
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Flight Lieutenant Walter Churchill has recently destroyed four enemy aircraft, bringing his total to seven.
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Walter Churchill relocated his engineering business, JJ Churchill, from Coventry to Market Bosworth during the war.