Percival Russell Burchall, born at Ashton under Lyne, Lancs. in 1888.
Commissioned Second Lieutenant (on probation) in the Royal Flying Corps 3rd October 1915 (from 2AM, service no. 3812) London Gazette Issue 29333 of 19.10.1915 page 10283.
After a turn in France which started in March 1915 (according to his Medal Roll Index Card) he became a Photographic Officer in the School of Photography in Farnborough, and finished the war as Major Burchall OBE (Military). His Long Service Papers may be WO 339/50712.
He was on the retired list by November 1924 and around 1925 seems to have been at the Air Ministry. In 1934/5 he joined Aerofilms Ltd. as Aerofilms’ “chief surveryor”. During WWII he went back to the School of Photography and continued with Aerofilms after, from the mid-1940s.
He died on 9th November 1950, age 62, in Hammersmith. The very brief death notice in The Times referred to him as Wing Commander and O.B.E. No Times obit found.
- a very brief outline of his service appears here http://www.unithisto…ficers_B01.html
- Mention of an annual dinner of photographic officers post war http://www.flightglo…919 – 1098.html
- A 1946 interview re Aerofilm (no reference to Burchall sadly) http://www.bbc.co.uk…neys/5301.shtml
- His brother Harold appears to have been in 12 Sqn RFC and later a Lt Col/Col with a DSO http://www.flightglo…940 – 1404.html
RAF Photographers Memorial 