Desmond Ruchwaldy

Desmond Ruchwaldy DFC, DFM (14 November 1920–21 May 1946) was a British flying ace with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He is credited with the destruction of at least seven German aircraft as well as several V-1 flying bombs.

Born in Singapore, Ruchwaldy was a bank worker when he joined the RAF in 1940. Once his flying training was completed, he was posted to No. 603 Squadron and flew Supermarine Spitfire fighters during the RAF's Circus offensive of 1941. He claimed his first aerial victories during this time and the following year was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. He spent much of 1942 off operations due to injuries sustained in an aircraft accident but returned to operations with No. 129 Squadron in mid-1943. Now a commissioned officer, he claimed further aerial victories. For several weeks from June 1944, the squadron was engaged in Operation Diver, the RAF's campaign against German-launched V-1 flying bombs targeting southeast England. Ruchwaldy destroyed ten V-1s during this period. He ended the war as commander of the Glasgow University Air Squadron. Remaining in the RAF in the postwar period, he was killed in an aircraft accident on 21 May 1946.