A/C A. L. Winskill was born in Penrith, Cumberland, on 24th January 1917.
Having enlisted in the RAFVR in April, 1937, Archie was called up for service in September, 1939, being posted as Staff Pilot to No 1 Armament Training Camp at Catfoss.  However, the camp was due to close as the airfield at Catfoss was to be redeveloped, so he maybe operated from nearby Leconfield.  He attended a conversion course onto fighters in August, 1940, and was commissioned, being posted to No 54 Squadron.  However, Archie was soon transferred to No’s 72 and 603 Squadrons, until finally being posted to No 41 Squadron.

Shortly after joining No 41 Squadron, on 14th August, 1941, Archie was shot down over France whilst escorting a formation of Blenheims to Lille.  During the raid, the bombers were attacked by Bf109’s and he was able to destroy one before being shot down himself.  Baling out, he landed close by a French farmer, who hid him until he was able to hand him over to the ‘Pat’ escape line who eventually returned him to England, becoming the first pilot to use the route through Spain and Gibraltar. 
However, this experience led to him being banned from leading any of his units over France, so was given command of No 232 Squadron, being tasked with taking it to North Africa.
Archie was awarded the DFC (6/1/42).

On a sweep over the Mateur area on 18th January, 1943, Archie was once again shot down, this time into the sea and he was able to swim ashore, albeit behind enemy lines, and then make his way back to the Allied lines on foot, one of the few to have evaded capture twice.

Archie destroyed a Ju 87 and shared another on 7th April, damaged a FW 190 on the 27th, destroyed a Ju 88 and a Bf 109 on the ground at La Sebala airfield on 7th May, and damaged a Me 323 on the ground on the 8th. With his tour completed, Archie was awarded a Bar to the DFC (27/7/43) and returned to the UK.

Archie commanded CGS, Catfoss from September, 1943 to December, 1944.  He then went to Army Staff College, Camberley for a course, after which he was posted to a staff job at Air Ministry in June 1945.  Archie was made a CBE (11/6/60) and retired from the RAF on December 18 1968, as an Air Commodore. He was Captain of the Queen's Flight from 1968 to 1982, and was created a KCVO in 1980 (CVO 1973).  

His final tally for the war was four confirmed destroyed and two shared, one probable, one damaged, two destroyed on the ground and one damaged on the ground.

Archie Winskill passed away on 9th August 2005.

Although he was classed as an Air Adviser on Belgium, Archie flew Meteors with 1eWing of the Belgian Air Force. 
As Leader of the Scottish Wing based at Turnhouse, his personal aircraft was Vampire FB5, WB340, ALW.  He had another personal aircraft later whilst C.O. at Turnhouse, Vampire FB5, WG833, ALW.  Whilst Director of Public Relations, he had to prepare a press release on the crash of a Whirlwind helicopter of The Queen’s Flight, in which the Captain of the Flight was killed.   Shortly afterwards, he was appointed to the post.

Retiring at his own request, Archie became the second longest serving Captain of the Queen's Flight and was knighted at a private audience on 20th Feb, 1980. 
Archie Winskill became a Extra Equerry to H.M. The Queen in 1973.