Walter Lawson

Walter Lawson, (January 1913 – 28 August 1941) was an flying ace who served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. During his service with the RAF, he was credited with at least six aerial victories.

Born in Taunton, Lawson enlisted in the RAF in 1929 and qualified as a fitter two years later. In 1936, he commenced pilot training and after gaining his wings, was posted to No. 46 Squadron. He saw little action in the Second World War until he was transferred to No. 19 Squadron in April 1940. He flew extensively in the later stages of the Battle of Britain, during which he achieved a number of aerial victories. In July 1941, he became commander of the squadron but was killed on operations the following month, aged 28.

Early life Walter John Lawson, known as Jack, was born in January 1913 in the Somerset town of Taunton, in the United Kingdom. The son of a British Army officer and his wife, Lawson went to school at Hastings Grammar. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force (RAF) in January 1929 as an apprentice, training as an aircraft fitter, a trade in which he qualified in late 1931. He subsequently decided to train as a pilot and in March 1936, commenced flight training at No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School at Yatesbury. Following this, he went to No. 10 Flying Training School at Ternhill and gained his wings.

Second World War At the time of the outbreak of the Second World War, Lawson was serving with No. 46 Squadron as a sergeant. His new unit was based at Digby as part of No. 12 Group and operated the Hawker Hurricane fighter. Tasked with patrols along the east coast, these were mostly uneventful. In April 1940, Lawson was commissioned as a pilot officer. Later that month he was transferred to No. 19 Squadron, where he soon earned the nickname 'Farmer' on account of this being his intended occupation after the war. A group of No. 19 Squadron pilots confer after a sortie during the Battle of Britain; Lawson stands facing the camera while the squadron's commander, Brian Lane, stands on the left Operational tempo remained slow over the winter months, but during this time Lawson received a substantive promotion to flying officer, although he remained as acting flight lieutenant.

Circus offensive As the RAF switched away from defensive operations, No. 19 Squadron began flying to France and the Low Countries on fighter sweeps and escorts to bombers as part of Fighter Command's Circus offensive. On one of these, a sortie carried out on 27 June 1941 that targeted a metal works facility in Lille, the squadron was flying in support of 24 Bristol Blenheim light bombers. Spotting several Bf 109s when they flew over the French coast, the squadron engaged them and Lawson subsequently shot one down and claimed another as probably destroyed.

In July, Lawson was promoted squadron leader and given command of No. 19 Squadron. At the time of his presumed death, he was credited with having shot down seven German aircraft, one of which shared with three other pilots, and three probably destroyed. He is also credited with damaging one aircraft.