Group Captain Peter Wooldridge Townsend,CVO,DSO,DFC & Bar, RAF Officer was Equerry to King George VI (1944-1952) and the same position with Queen Elizabeth II (1952-1953)
Peter was born in 1914 in Rangoon and educated at HaileyBury School. He joined the RAF in 1933 - trained at Cranwell. He served in Training Command as a Flying Instructor at RAF Montrose.
In 1940 Townsend was now a Squadron Leader-attached to No 43 squadron RAF. He was Wing Commander on Night Operations at RAF Hunsdon from 1941. He later became Commanding Officer RAF Drew-No 611 Squadron RAF a Spitfire Unit.
Townsend was a notable pilot during the Battle of Britain, serving through the battle as Commanding Officer No 85 Squadron RAF - which flew Hawker Hurricanes and continued to lead the unit, even after being wounded in action.
Townsend later became leader of 605 Squadron RAF a night fighter unit. In January 1943 he was appointed Commanding Officer of RAF West Malling.
He was appointed Group Captain in 1948.
Peter is also best known for his ill-fated romance with Princess Margaret. Despite having a very distinguished career and a War Hero. Being a divorced man he was unable to marry the Princess.
In later years Peter married a Belgian lady..Marie-Luce Jamagne in 1959.
Townsend was one of several Military advisors on the (1969)Film Battle of Britain.
Peter spent much of his later years writing non fiction books and some articles for magazine publication.
A sculpture of Peter Townsend is in Townsend Square, Kings Hill, West Malling, England.(This site was previously RAF West Malling.)
SPOUSES:
Rosemary Pawle
Marie-Luce Jamagne.
CHILDREN:
Giles Townsend
Hugo Townsend
Isabelle Townsend (b.1961)
BOOKS By Peter Townsend.
Earth My Friend.
Duel of Eagles.
The Odds Against Us.
The Last Emperor.
The Girl in The White Ship.
Time And Chance.
Cause of Death : Stomach Cancer.
Peter was born in 1914 in Rangoon and educated at HaileyBury School. He joined the RAF in 1933 - trained at Cranwell. He served in Training Command as a Flying Instructor at RAF Montrose.
In 1940 Townsend was now a Squadron Leader-attached to No 43 squadron RAF. He was Wing Commander on Night Operations at RAF Hunsdon from 1941. He later became Commanding Officer RAF Drew-No 611 Squadron RAF a Spitfire Unit.
Townsend was a notable pilot during the Battle of Britain, serving through the battle as Commanding Officer No 85 Squadron RAF - which flew Hawker Hurricanes and continued to lead the unit, even after being wounded in action.
Townsend later became leader of 605 Squadron RAF a night fighter unit. In January 1943 he was appointed Commanding Officer of RAF West Malling.
He was appointed Group Captain in 1948.
Peter is also best known for his ill-fated romance with Princess Margaret. Despite having a very distinguished career and a War Hero. Being a divorced man he was unable to marry the Princess.
In later years Peter married a Belgian lady..Marie-Luce Jamagne in 1959.
Townsend was one of several Military advisors on the (1969)Film Battle of Britain.
Peter spent much of his later years writing non fiction books and some articles for magazine publication.
A sculpture of Peter Townsend is in Townsend Square, Kings Hill, West Malling, England.(This site was previously RAF West Malling.)
SPOUSES:
Rosemary Pawle
Marie-Luce Jamagne.
CHILDREN:
Giles Townsend
Hugo Townsend
Isabelle Townsend (b.1961)
BOOKS By Peter Townsend.
Earth My Friend.
Duel of Eagles.
The Odds Against Us.
The Last Emperor.
The Girl in The White Ship.
Time And Chance.
Cause of Death : Stomach Cancer.
Group Captain Peter Wooldridge Townsend,CVO,DSO,DFC & Bar, RAF Officer was Equerry to King George VI (1944-1952) and the same position with Queen Elizabeth II (1952-1953)
Peter was born in 1914 in Rangoon and educated at HaileyBury School. He joined the RAF in 1933 - trained at Cranwell. He served in Training Command as a Flying Instructor at RAF Montrose.
In 1940 Townsend was now a Squadron Leader-attached to No 43 squadron RAF. He was Wing Commander on Night Operations at RAF Hunsdon from 1941. He later became Commanding Officer RAF Drew-No 611 Squadron RAF a Spitfire Unit.
Townsend was a notable pilot during the Battle of Britain, serving through the battle as Commanding Officer No 85 Squadron RAF - which flew Hawker Hurricanes and continued to lead the unit, even after being wounded in action.
Townsend later became leader of 605 Squadron RAF a night fighter unit. In January 1943 he was appointed Commanding Officer of RAF West Malling.
He was appointed Group Captain in 1948.
Peter is also best known for his ill-fated romance with Princess Margaret. Despite having a very distinguished career and a War Hero. Being a divorced man he was unable to marry the Princess.
In later years Peter married a Belgian lady..Marie-Luce Jamagne in 1959.
Townsend was one of several Military advisors on the (1969)Film Battle of Britain.
Peter spent much of his later years writing non fiction books and some articles for magazine publication.
A sculpture of Peter Townsend is in Townsend Square, Kings Hill, West Malling, England.(This site was previously RAF West Malling.)
SPOUSES:
Rosemary Pawle
Marie-Luce Jamagne.
CHILDREN:
Giles Townsend
Hugo Townsend
Isabelle Townsend (b.1961)
BOOKS By Peter Townsend.
Earth My Friend.
Duel of Eagles.
The Odds Against Us.
The Last Emperor.
The Girl in The White Ship.
Time And Chance.
Cause of Death : Stomach Cancer.
Peter was born in 1914 in Rangoon and educated at HaileyBury School. He joined the RAF in 1933 - trained at Cranwell. He served in Training Command as a Flying Instructor at RAF Montrose.
In 1940 Townsend was now a Squadron Leader-attached to No 43 squadron RAF. He was Wing Commander on Night Operations at RAF Hunsdon from 1941. He later became Commanding Officer RAF Drew-No 611 Squadron RAF a Spitfire Unit.
Townsend was a notable pilot during the Battle of Britain, serving through the battle as Commanding Officer No 85 Squadron RAF - which flew Hawker Hurricanes and continued to lead the unit, even after being wounded in action.
Townsend later became leader of 605 Squadron RAF a night fighter unit. In January 1943 he was appointed Commanding Officer of RAF West Malling.
He was appointed Group Captain in 1948.
Peter is also best known for his ill-fated romance with Princess Margaret. Despite having a very distinguished career and a War Hero. Being a divorced man he was unable to marry the Princess.
In later years Peter married a Belgian lady..Marie-Luce Jamagne in 1959.
Townsend was one of several Military advisors on the (1969)Film Battle of Britain.
Peter spent much of his later years writing non fiction books and some articles for magazine publication.
A sculpture of Peter Townsend is in Townsend Square, Kings Hill, West Malling, England.(This site was previously RAF West Malling.)
SPOUSES:
Rosemary Pawle
Marie-Luce Jamagne.
CHILDREN:
Giles Townsend
Hugo Townsend
Isabelle Townsend (b.1961)
BOOKS By Peter Townsend.
Earth My Friend.
Duel of Eagles.
The Odds Against Us.
The Last Emperor.
The Girl in The White Ship.
Time And Chance.
Cause of Death : Stomach Cancer.
Inscription
PETER WOOLDRIDGE TOWNSEND
1914 - 1995
ROYAL AIR FORCE
85 SOUADRON
AND MAY THERE BE NO SADNESS OR FAREWELL
WHEN I EMBARK
A. TENNYSON
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