Peter Rothwell

Who was Peter Rothwell?

Squadron Leader Peter Rothwell was an English bomber pilot in World War II.

Rothwell was born in Bristol, the son of a vicar. He was the eldest of 7 children and was educated at St John's School, Leatherhead. His education was cut short by the early death of his father, resulting in him in taking a job with Imperial Tobacco.

He joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1938 and joined 221 Squadron after pilot training. In early 1942 Rothwell transferred from Iceland to the Special Duties Wellington flight based on Malta. The Special Duties group flew with the Royal Navy to locate enemy convoys, and bring in ships or aircraft, dropping flares, observing results and also bombing themselves. He arrived during one of the coldest winters on record and was billeted in a former leper colony. In an interview Rothwell said "It was freezing. The boys were all drinking gin with hot water and eating tiny pickled onions to help them forget the cold."

After the billets were destroyed by enemy action the squadron was moved to the seaplane base at Lalafrana. From Malta, Rothwell and his colleagues attacked Axis convoys and airfields. After their accommodation at Lalafrana was again destroyed, they were forced to live in nearby caves, were they had to endure vicious sand bugs.