AIR CHIEF Marshal Sir Peter Squire, GCB, DFC, AFC, DL, who died suddenly on 19 February, aged 72, was a former Chief of the Air Staff writes Geoff Simpson. As a Wing Commander in 1982 he led the Harriers of 1 Squadron in the Falklands conflict and earned his DFC.
Peter Squire was born on 7 October 1945. His father, Wing Commander Frank Squire, DSO, DFC, had flown in Coastal Command during the Second World War.
Having attended King’s School at Bruton in Somerset, Peter Squire was a cadet at RAF College, Cranwell, between 1963 and 1966. He served on Hawker Hunter day fighters in Singapore with 20 Squadron and then became an instructor at RAF Valley, Anglesey, where he acted as display pilot. He received a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.
Squire went on to fly Harriers as a Flight Commander with 3 Squadron in Germany. At the end of his tour he was awarded the AFC and took command of 1 Squadron at Wittering in the spring of 1981. Just over a year later the squadron was called upon to reinforce the Task Force sent to recapture the Falkland Islands after the Argentinian invasion.
On 19 May 1982, Squire flew his first sortie from HMS Hermes and would take pa…
