CHURCHER | old-azurians

The Most Decorated Azurian Hero

Group Captain Ronald George William Churcher

During the Second World War a crew member of RAF Bomber Command had less chance of survival than an infantry officer had in the First World War. A staggering 44% of those who served lost their lives. That the crews of Bomber Command continued to pit themselves against such odds, night after night, is testament to their dedication and bravery. By 1943 there was only a 1 in 6 chance of surviving a single tour of operations, and the odds on surviving a second tour fell to 40:1 against.

We pay tribute here to our own Azurian hero of Bomber Command who survived not just two tours of duty but an astonishing three. He was Ronald (Ronnie) George Churcher. Ronnie transferred to Worthing High School for Boys from Worthing Secondary School on 18 January 1936 at the age of 13, having been awarded a special place by the County Council. He left the school in July 1938 to become a solicitor’s clerk when he was 16, after passing his School Certificate Examination.

In 1940 at the age of 18 Ronnie joined the RAF as a RAFVR Pilot Officer. After a spell flying lesser machines, Ronnie trained to fly Lancaster bombers at RAF Swinderby. He was then posted to 106 Squadron where Guy Gibson (of Dam Busters fame) was his Commanding Officer. Ronnie flew as Gibson’s second pilot on a number of occasions. It was with this unit that, as a Flying Officer, Ronnie completed his first tour of operations and was awarded the DFC on 27 October 1942.

After a respite at 5 Group HQ Ronnie returned to active service on 22 April 1943 as an acting Flight Lieutenant with 619 Squadron, again on Lancaster bombers. On 29 July and 2 August 1943 Ronnie took part in the “firestorm” raids on Hamburg that caused immense damage and loss of civilian life. His usual aircraft was ED977 PG ‘A’ which he flew to targets as far away as Berlin and Milan. The last time he flew this aircraft was to Berlin on 1 January 1944. Only a few days later that aircraft, with a different crew, was shot down over Stettin. Such was the deadly tightrope that these brave airmen trod. Ronnie completed his second tour with another Berlin raid on 27 January 1944. He had been awarded a bar to his DFC on 24 December 1943.

In 1944 Ronnie, now a Squadron Leader, and keen to fly the legendary Mosquito fighter-bomber, volunteered to undertake a third tour of duty and joined the elite band of “Pathfinders” in 627 Squadron, Woodhall Spa. The photo (left), donated by Ronnie's daughter Carole-Anne, shows Ronnie (front row centre in front of the nose of the Mosquito) as "A" Flight Commander with members of "A" Flight. Many of the men in 627 Squadron had completed more than one tour and received multiple decorations. They included Guy Gibson VC. Their task was to fly in to the target fast at low level ahead of the main bomber group, mark the target with coloured flares, and escape through the often intense light flak.

Ronnie’s navigator for most of the operations he flew during his third tour was Harry Willis who has recorded that on one occasion, Ronnie coaxed their aircraft back to base on a single engine. Ronnie was Marker Leader and Deputy Controller on the raid on the marshalling yards at Rheydt/Munchen Gladbach on 19 September 1944. This was the raid from which Guy Gibson failed to return.

His last operation was an attack on two German cruisers in a Norwegian Fjord on 13 December 1944. After that he was awarded the DSO on 13 April 1945.

In the post-war years Ronnie served with the Queen’s Flight, carrying Her Majesty the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, and other members of the Royal Family. For this service he was awarded the MVO in 1954 (subsequently advanced to LVO). Before retiring from the RAF in 1977 with the rank of Group Captain he spent time on loan to BOAC as a long-haul pilot, as an Air Attaché in Rome, and as a station commander in Malaya during the emergency years.

In civilian life after retirement Ronnie worked with a charity providing assistance to schools, and obtained a degree in Humanities with the Open University. As a hobby Ronnie made furniture. In this he showed great skill, quite possibly derived from the days when he was a member of the school Stage-craft Society where he learned how to use tools and make a variety of woodwork joints.

Ronald George William Churcher was born in Worthing on 9 May 1922, died 25 October 2013 aged 91. Survived by his second wife Lyn and the children of his first wife Shelagh – Carole-Anne, Paul, and Guy.

School years 1936-38

Ronnie's youngest son Guy has added this personal note (4th October 2014):

"I have only just found the article written about my Father by The Old Azzurians Association.

I need to say few words. But I am compelled to say what a man he was. A loving Father and a great husband to my Mother Shelagh, and his second wife Lyn."

Editor Post Script

In his later years Ronnie lived in a house in Sunningdale, Berkshire. The house was then bought by two subsequent owners, the second of whom discovered some memorabilia in 2020 that related to Ronnie’s career in the RAF, and his time as pilot of the Queen's Flight. . They were in a box that had been placed in the eaves of the garage roof and clearly would be of great interest to Ronnie’s family. The house owner tried diligently to track the family members down, but it was not until the search eventually revealed the article about Ronnie on this web site, to which Guy had added a note in October 2014, that a glimmer of hope was perceived. At this point I was contacted and asked if I could help. I still had Guy’s email address from 6 years ago so, hoping it was still in use, I wrote to Guy with news of the discovery. There followed a flurry of emails and telephone calls between me, Guy, and his sister Carole-Anne who was soon able to collect the precious items in person.

It had been an episode of highly charged emotion for those involved. I am delighted for them and pleased that I was able to play a small part in achieving the successful outcome.