Peter Gardner (RAF officer)

Peter Melvill Gardner DFC (1 July 1918 – 23 May 1984) was a British flying ace of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He was credited with at least ten aerial victories.

Born in Grimsby, Gardner joined the RAF in late 1937. In the early stages of the Second World War he served with No. 32 Squadron, but was transferred to No. 3 Squadron in May 1940, serving with this unit during the Battle of France and claiming several victories. He returned to No. 32 Squadron for the subsequent Battle of Britain and was heavily engaged in the fighting over Kent during July and August, achieving further aerial victories. In June 1941, he was posted to No. 54 Squadron, which was involved in the Circus offensive. He was shot down over France the following month and spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of the Germans. In later life he was a restaurateur in the Bahamas. He died in 1984, aged 65. A photograph taken of Gardner and other pilots of No. 32 Squadron during the Battle of Britain inspired the ‘Spirit of The Few’ Monument at Hawkinge.