Peter Squire

Air Chief Marshal
Sir Peter Squire
GCB DFC AFC DL FRAeS
Born
Peter Ted Squire

(1945-10-07)7 October 1945
Felixstowe, Suffolk, England
Died19 February 2018(2018-02-19) (aged 72)
Gidleigh, Devon, England
Military career
AllegianceMonarch of the United Kingdom
Branch
Royal Air Force
Service years
1966 (1966)–2003 (2003)
Rank
Air chief marshal
Service number608512
CommandsChief of the Air Staff (2000–2003)
Strike Command (1999–2000)
No. 1 Group (1993)
RAF Cottesmore (1986–1988)
No. 1 (F) Squadron (1981–1983)
Conflicts
Falklands War
Operation Veritas
Operation Telic
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Force Cross
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

Air chief marshal Sir Peter Ted Squire, GCB, DFC, AFC, DL, FRAeS (7 October 1945 – 19 February 2018) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF). He was a fast jet pilot from the 1970s, a squadron commander during the Falklands War, and a senior air commander in the 1990s. Squire served as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) from 2000 to 2003. In retirement, he became the chairman of the board of trustees of the Imperial War Museum (IWM), and vice-chair of the board of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).

Early life

Peter Ted Squire was born at Felixstowe, Suffolk in England, on 7 October 1945, the son of wing commander Frank Squire, DSO, DFC. Frank Squire was the son of a Devon farmer, and Margaret Pascoe Squire (née Trump). Peter Squire received his schooling at the independent King's School, Bruton in Somerset, the fees of which were paid for by the British Government, as he was the son of a serving military commissioned officer.

Military career

In 1961, at the age of sixteen, the young Squire was awarded a scholarship to academically study at the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell in Lincolnshire, which he entered in September 1963. He subsequently earned a commission into the Royal Air Force, with the rank of pilot officer on 15 July 1966. On 15 January 1967, Squire was promoted to flying officer and after qualifying as an RAF pilot, was posted to No. 20 Squadron based in Singapore in Asia to fly Hunters in March 1968. He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 15 January 1969, returned to the United Kingdom and posted to No. 4 Flying Training School (4FTS) at RAF Valley in Anglesey, north-west Wales in 1970, where he became a qualified flying instructor (QFI) on the Hunter. In 1972, Squire was awarded the 'Wright' Jubilee Trophy for his individual aerobatic performance by a QFI at a jet Flying Training School.

In 1973, Squire commanded the RAF's aerobatic display unit 'The Red Arrows', and was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in her June 1973 Birthday Honours, and having been promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1973, he was attached to No. 233 Operational Conversion Unit (233 OCU) for conversion to the Harrier GR1 jump-jet. Upon completion, Squire was posted as Flight Commander to No. 3 Squadron Harriers based at RAF Gutersloh in West Germany from 1975. Squire was awarded the Air Force Cross in the June 1979 Queen's Birthday Honours, and promoted to wing commander on 1 July 1980, On 25 March 1981, Squire was appointed officer commanding (OC) of No. 1 (F) Squadron at RAF Wittering, flying Harrier GR3 aircraft.

Falklands War

Harrier, a type flown by Squire during the Falklands War.

On 13 April 1982, wing commander Squire deployed with 1 Squadron to CFB Goose Bay in Canada for an exercise, completing a six-hour flight using air-to-air refuelling. Less than a month later, Squire led 1 Squadron during the Falklands War.

No. 1 (F) Squadron departed with its Harrier GR3s from RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall, south-west England, for RAF Ascension Island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on 3 May 1982, where it later embarked on the merchant vessel SS Atlantic Conveyor. Upon arrival in the South Atlantic Ocean, the Harriers were transferred to the 'ski-jump' equipped HMS Hermes. A few days later, the Atlantic Conveyor was struck by two Argentine-fired Exocet missiles and sunk.

No. 1 (F) Squadron became the first Royal Air Force unit to operate in a combat role from a British aircraft carrier since the Second World War, and its Harriers were assigned to the ground-attack role during the conflict.

Squire flew twenty-four Harrier sorties against Argentine positions in support of operations, and during one mission, a 7.62 mm round fired from the ground penetrated the cockpit of his mount.

Four of No. 1 (F) Squadron's ten Harrier GR3s were lost during the campaign, three to enemy ground fire, and one (piloted by Squire) due to engine failure.

Royal Air Force Harrier GR3 losses during the Falklands War
aircraft registrationpilotdatelocationcause / weapon
XZ972Flt‑Lt Jeff Glover21 May 1982Port Howard, West FalklandShot down by Blowpipe surface-to-air missile
XZ988Sqn Ldr Bob Iveson27 May 1982Near Goose GreenHit by 20 mm cannon anti-aircraft fire
XZ963Sqn Ldr Jerry Pook30 May 1982West of Port StanleyDamaged by small-arms fire, crashed due to fuel exhaustion
XZ989Wg Cdr Peter Squire8 June 1982Port San Carlos areaMechanical failure on landing

After the war, while still stationed in the Falklands, Squire experienced another engine failure on 6 November 1982 during a routine patrol in Harrier GR3, registration XW767. He was forced to eject at low altitude near Cape Pembroke, and was rescued uninjured from the sea by a Royal Navy helicopter.

Later military career

Upon returning to the United Kingdom, Squire was appointed leader of the RAF's Command Briefing and Presentation Team, and later served as Personal Staff Officer to the Air Officer Commanding RAF Strike Command (AOC STC) in 1984. He was promoted to group captain on 1 July 1985, and the following year became Station Commander at RAF Cottesmore in Leicestershire.

Squire was appointed to the post of Director Air Offensive at the Ministry of Defence in 1989. Following his promotion to air commodore on 1 January 1990, he became Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at HQ RAF Strike Command, and Deputy Chief of Staff Operations (United Kingdom) Air Forces in 1991, and received further promotion to air vice-marshal on 1 July 1991. AVM Squire was appointed Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group in February 1993, however, after only a few months, he was replaced by Air Vice Marshal John Day. Squire served as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff from 1994, and, having been promoted to air marshal on 9 February 1996, became Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Programmes and Personnel) in 1996.

Squire was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1997 Birthday Honours. Appointed Air Aide-de-Camp to Queen Elizabeth II on 29 March 1999, he was promoted to air chief marshal, and became Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command, and Commander Allied Air Forces North-western Europe on 30 March 1999.

In 2000, he became Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), and was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 2001 New Year Honours. As Chief of the Air Staff, he personally advised the British Government on the British air contribution to Operation Veritas in Afghanistan in 2001, and then to Operation Telic in Iraq. He retired from the Royal Air Force on 5 December 2003; 22 years ago.

Later life

In retirement, Squire joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR). He was chairman of the board of trustees of the Imperial War Museum (IWM) from 2003 to 2011, and vice-chairman of the board of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) from 2005 to 2008. Squire was also a governor at King's School, Bruton, and the deputy lieutenant of Devon. In 2004, he privately issued a narrative of the combat operations by No.1 (F) Squadron in the Falklands in 1982, entitled The Harrier Goes to War. In 2005, he recorded an extended interview detailing his military career with the Imperial War Museum's Sound Archive.

Peter Squire died of heart failure at the age of 72 on 19 February 2018 at his home, 'Lower Park', at Gidleigh in Devon. A funeral service was held at Holy Trinity Church, Gidleigh in early March 2018. A memorial service was held for him at St Clement Danes Church in London on 1 June 2018, the Queen being represented by Lord Craig of Radley.

Personal life

In 1970, Squire married Carolyn Joynson, the marriage producing three sons. His main personal leisure activity was golf.

Arms

Coat of arms of Peter Squire
Notes
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath since 2001
Crest
A four-winged bird Gules, armed, beaked, and langued Or.
Torse
Argent and Azure torse.
Escutcheon
Gyronny Azure and Murrey a Mullet of eight points gyronny Or and Argent voided fracted at the inner angles and the arms of each piece pointed the whole enclosing a Sun in Splendour Or a Bordure engrailed gobony of eight also Or and Argent.
Supporters
On either side a bull rampant regardant Gules armed, unguled and gorged Or with an astral crown of the last.
Motto
EXAMPLE THROUGH ENDEAVOUR
Orders
Collar as grand cross Knight and the Order of the Bath circlet.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Barrass, Malcolm B. (16 March 2025). "Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire (608512)". RAFweb.org. Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010, ISBN 978-1-4081-1414-8
  3. ↑ Interview with Peter Squire about his life and career, Imperial War Museum's Sound Archive.
  4. ↑ "No. 44110". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 September 1966. p. 9965.
  5. ↑ "No. 44227". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 January 1967. p. 576.
  6. ↑ "No. 44770". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 January 1969. p. 733.
  7. ↑ "No. 45984". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 May 1973. p. 6504.
  8. ↑ "No. 46029". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 July 1973. p. 8289.
  9. ↑ "No. 47869". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 1979. p. 15.
  10. ↑ "No. 48294". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 September 1980. p. 12376.
  11. ↑ "The No 1 (Fighter) Squadron Operation Corporate diary". RAF.MoD.uk. Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  12. ↑ "No. 49194". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 December 1982. p. 16124.
  13. 1 2 3 "Wing Commander Peter Squire, No. 1 (F) Squadron, RAF". Imperial War Museum. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  14. 1 2 Briley, Harold (November 2003). "RAF's Falklands role in War and Peace". Falklands Info. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  15. ↑ "Report on the crash for Harrier GR3 XZ989". Aviation Safety Network. 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  16. ↑ "Wg Cdr Peter Squire in XZ997/31 and Flt Lt Mark Hare in XZ133 attacked a company HQ on Mt Tumbledown, marked by a FAC". IWM.org.uk. London, England: Imperial War Museum. 13 June 1982.
  17. ↑ "No. 49134". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 October 1982. p. 12854.
  18. ↑ "List of British aircraft destroyed". Naval History. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  19. ↑ Smith (n.d.). "- Harrier GR.3 XZ972 shot down 21 May 1982". Naval-History.net. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  20. ↑ Naval-History.net: Harrier GR.3 XZ988 shot down 27 May 1982
  21. ↑ Naval-History.net: Harrier GR.3 XZ963 crash 30 May 1982
  22. ↑ Naval-History.net: Harrier GR.3 XZ989 damaged on landing 8 June 1982
  23. ↑ "Accident Harrier GR.3 XW767". Aviation Safety Network. 6 November 1982. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  24. ↑ "No. 50195". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 July 1985. p. 9770.
  25. ↑ "No. 52005". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1990. p. 73.
  26. ↑ "No. 52591". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 1991. p. 10091.
  27. ↑ Barrass, Malcolm B. (n.d.). "Group No's 1 - 9". RAFweb.org. Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 13 June 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  28. ↑ "No. 54314". The London Gazette. 12 February 1996. p. 2190.
  29. ↑ "No. 54794". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 1997. p. 2.
  30. ↑ "No. 55453". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 April 1999. p. 4139.
  31. ↑ "No. 55442". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 March 1999. p. 3613.
  32. ↑ "No. 56070". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2000. p. 2.
  33. ↑ "Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire; Chief of the Air Staff". Vol. 56, no. 657. Interavia Business & Technology. October 2001. (url requested)
  34. ↑ "Iraq War: Commitment: Population can face the future with confidence, says Ingram". TheFreeLibrary.com. The Birmingham Post. 5 April 2003. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  35. ↑ "No. 57168". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 January 2004. p. 130.
  36. ↑ "No. 57175". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 January 2004. p. 385.
  37. ↑ "No. 58638". The London Gazette. 12 March 2008. p. 3859.
  38. ↑ Squire, Peter (2004). "The Harrier Goes to War" (PDF). Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  39. ↑ "Interview with Peter Squire". Imperial War Museum Sound Archive. 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  40. ↑ "Squire". Archived from the original on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  41. ↑ "Obituary for Peter Squire". The Moorlander. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  42. ↑ "Memorial service for Sir Peter Squire". No. 1 Fighter Squadron Association. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  43. ↑ "Court Circular". Buckingham Palace. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  44. ↑ "The Heraldry Gazette". The Heraldry Society. December 2008. p. 7. Archived from the original on 25 June 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  45. ↑ "Order of the Bath Insignia". Heraldsnet.org. Retrieved 28 December 2013.