Ernest Leslie Joyce | |
|---|---|
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| Nickname(s) | Nipper |
| Born | 17 February 1920 Hamilton, New Zealand |
| Died | 17 June 1944 (aged 24) near Évreux, France |
| Buried | Marville-Les-Bois Communal Cemetery, France |
| Allegiance | New Zealand |
| Service/ | Royal New Zealand Air Force (1940–1944) † |
| Rank | Squadron leader |
| Commands held | No. 122 Squadron No. 73 Squadron |
| Battles/wars | Second World War
|
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Medal |
Ernest Leslie Joyce, DFM (17 February 1920 – 17 June 1944) was a New Zealand flying ace of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during the Second World War. He is credited with the destruction of at least nine enemy aircraft.
Born in Hamilton, Joyce joined the RNZAF in 1940. After completing his flight training, the latter part of which was received in the United Kingdom, he was posted to the Royal Air Force's No. 3 Squadron where he flew a Hawker Hurricane. In early 1942 he was dispatched to the Middle East, to fly with No. 73 Squadron in Egypt. Still flying Hurricanes, he shot down his first enemy aircraft in May and several more followed over the next few months. Having been commissioned after being awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in August 1942, he was sent to a training unit later that year; he returned to No. 73 Squadron in mid–1943 as its commanding officer and led the squadron, now operating Supermarine Spitfires, in operations over Italy until November. Returning to England, he was given command of No. 122 Squadron, which was equipped with the North American P-51 Mustang. Flying as part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force in support of the Allied landings in Normandy, he was shot down and killed while strafing a train.