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WILLIAMS, P/O John William (J15604) - Distinguished Flying Cross -
No.249 Squadron
Award effective 9 Sept 1942 as per London Gazette dated 11 Sept 1942
and
AFRO 1535/42 dated 25 September 1942
This officer has fought the enemy with great determination. Within a short
period he has destroyed at least four enemy aircraft, two of which he
shot down in one day. Later his aircraft was damaged by enemy fire but
he flew it safely to base. His courageous example has been most inspiring.
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Son of Herbert and Frances Williams, of Chilliwack, B.C.
Born 1 February 1922 in Kamloops, British Columbia
Educated there and in Chilliwack (1936-1940)
Name changed from "Larson" to "Williams"
- following his mother's second marriage
He was so keen to enlist that he took a six month ground course
- in aviation by correspondence
Enlisted in Vancouver, 24 October 1940
Attended No.2 Manning Depot, Brandon
Trained at No.2 ITS, Regina (17 January to 20 February 1941)
No.16 EFTS, Edmonton (21 February to 3 May 1941) and
No.32 SFTS, Moose Jaw (4 May to 16 July 1941)
graduated as Sergeant, 30th in a class of 61
- (school mates included J.H. Turnbull
and H.J. Everard)
Arrived in Britain, 30 August 1941
Trained at No.57 OTU, 5 September to 21 October 1941
No.132 Squadron, 21 October 1941 to 30 March 1942
Promoted to Flight Sergeant, 1 February 1942
No.603 Squadron, 30 March to 28 April 1942
No.164 Squadron, 28 April to 9 May 1942
No.249 Squadron, 9 May 1942
Commissioned 22 June 1942
No.2 SPTC, 29 June 1942
No.145 Squadron, 21 July 1942
No.1413 Flight, 8 September 1942
Killed 31 October 1942 in crash of Liberator AL516
- (No.511 Squadron), Gibraltar ; (Buzz Beurling
survived)
Known on Malta as "Willie the Kid"
Award presented to next of kin, 18 May 1944
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NOTE: the last three postings appear in pencil in his
file and are questionable
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Victories Include :
10 May 1942, one
Ju.88 damaged
12 May 1942, one Ju.88 damaged
14 May 1942, one Bf.109 damaged
10 June 1942, one Re.2001 destroyed
15 June 1942, one Bf.109
damaged
8 July 1942,
one Ju.88 destroyed
- one Bf.109 destroyed
- one Ju.88 damaged
10 July 1942, one
Bf.109 destroyed
14 July 1942, one
Bf.109 destroyed
27 July 1942,
two Bf.109s destroyed
27 August 1942, one Ju.87 probable / OTG.
Sicily
5 September 1942, one Bf.109 damaged
14 October 1942, two Bf.109s damaged
15 October 1942, one Ju.88 probable
16 October 1942, one Ju.88 destroyed
24 October 1942, one Bf.109 destroyed |
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Canadian Aces
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