Nickname(s) Boy Service number 33414 Rank Squadron leader | Allegiance United Kingdom Other name Boy | |
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Born 14 December 1916 ( 1916-12-14 ) Battles/wars Second World WarBattle of FranceSiege of Malta Battles and wars World War II, Battle of France, Siege of Malta | ||
Peter William Olbert "Boy" Mould DFC & Bar (14 December 1916 – 1 October 1941, Malta) was a British Royal Air Force flying ace in the Second World War.
The first son and third child of Charles and Ethel Mould, he grew up on "the family estate at Great Easton, and later at the Rectory at Stoke Dry, both in Rutland."
He "joined the Royal Naval training ship HMS Conway, but changed to the Air Force when he joined Halton Apprentice School." In 1937, Mould was one of four Halton students in his intake of 180 selected to transfer to RAF College, Cranwell, to train to become pilot officers. There, he excelled at athletics.
After graduating in 1939, Pilot Officer Mould was assigned to No. 1 Squadron RAF at Tangmere. On the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, the squadron was deployed to France as part of the RAF Advanced Air Striking Force. On 30 October, he achieved the RAF's first victory of the war, downing a Dornier Do 17P photo-reconnaissance aircraft west of Toul. He would go on to claim six more aircraft in the skies over France, making him an ace. For his accomplishments, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).
The squadron was withdrawn from France on 18 June. Though it fought in the Battle of Britain, Mould did not. He was posted to No. 5 Operational Training Unit as an instructor.
In May 1941, Flight Lieutenant Mould was sent to Malta, helping to deliver Hurricane IIa fighters to the island from HMS Ark Royal on 3 April. There, he led a flight of No. 261 Squadron RAF until 12 May. When No. 185 Squadron RAF was formed, he was given command as a squadron leader. He shot down an Italian Macchi C.200 on 11 July.
On 1 October, he led eight Hurricanes to intercept an Italian raid 30 miles (48 km) north-east of the island. While chasing one group of enemy aircraft, he was ambushed by another group of Macchi C.202 fighters, the first of their type to appear over Malta. None of his comrades saw him being shot down, but he did not return to base. Mould was awarded a bar to his DFC, either in September or posthumously.
While on leave in January 1940, he married a woman named Phyllis.
Victories
His final tally was eight aircraft, along with some shared credit. He flew the Hawker Hurricane I until he was posted to Malta, at which point he piloted the Hurricane IIa.