Christopher McEvoy


Christopher McEvoy, was a British aviator and flying ace, credited with nine aerial victories during the First World War.

Early life

Christopher McEvoy was born in Cricklewood, North London on 2 February 1899. He was the first-born son of The Reverend Cuthbert McEvoy and his wife Margaret.

First World War

When old enough, McEvoy joined the Royal Flying Corps. In January 1918, he was assigned to No. 66 Squadron in Italy as a pilot. He was slightly wounded the following month, and hospitalized for a short while. On 30 March 1918, he scored his first aerial victory; by 1 August, he had run his tally of victories to nine. Illness then removed him from the cockpit; he was medically evacuated back to England with dysentery. After recovery, he served in No. 39 Squadron. He was awarded Distinguished Flying Cross, gazetted on 23 September 1918:

List of aerial victories

No.Date/timeAircraftFoeResultLocationNotes
130 March 1918 @ 1315 hoursSopwith Camel serial number B7389Albatros D.IIIDriven down out of controlMonte Melatta
24 April 1918 @ 0920 hoursSopwith Camel s/n B7389Albatros D.IIISet afire; destroyedCismon del Grappa
317 April 1918 @ 1420 hoursSopwith Camel s/n B7389Albatros D.IIIDestroyedSouth of Giacomo
426 May 1918 @ 0615 hoursSopwith Camel s/n B7353Reconnaissance planeDestroyedSalinaVictory shared with Harold Koch Boysen
521 June 1918 @ 0805 hoursSopwith Camel s/n B5180Albatros D.VDriven down out of controlFeltre
64 July 1918 @ 0815 hoursSopwith Camel s/n D8235Pfalz D.IIISet afire; destroyedNorthwest of Asiago
721 July 1918 @ 1915 hoursSopwith Camel s/n B2433Albatros D.VDestroyedMotta di Livenza
81 August 1918 @ 1155 hoursSopwith Camel s/n B2433Albatros D.VDestroyedSouth of Mareno-C Tron
91 August 1918 @ 1210 hoursSopwith Camel s/n B2433Albatros D.VDestroyedFontaneletto

Second World War and beyond

McEvoy returned to service in the Second World War, being appointed a temporary pilot officer on probation on 1 September 1939. He served in the rank of flight lieutenant as a codes officer for RAF Coastal Command. It seems likely he got in some cockpit time, as he was still serving as a pilot officer when he surrendered his commission because of illness on 7 September 1940.
Christopher McEvoy died at Dorking, England on 12 October 1953 following a prolonged illness.