John William "Willie the Kid" Williams

John "Willie the Kid" Williams
"Willie the Kid"    (photo courtesy of his cousin Don Patterson)

RCAF   P/O   -   DFC

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FOUR CANADIANS RECEIVE AWARDS FOR GREAT WORK
Toronto Pilot Gets D.F.C. For Attacks Deep Into Germany
DEEDS OF HEROISM

London, September 11, 1942 - (CP Cable) - The air ministry today announced the award of Distinguished Flying Crosses to six members of the Royal Canadian Air Force who have been carrying the air war deep into German-occupied territory.
The flyers are: F/O James Elmslie Walker, of Edmonton; F/O John Lefroy McCaul, of Toronto; P/O John William Williams, Chilliwack, B.C.; Acting F/L P.L.I. Archer, native of Bridgetown, Barbados, B.W.I.; F/L Frederick Ernest Green, of Toronto, and S/L John Fee, Calgary, Alta.
The citation said Walker destroyed a Nazi plane while serving with the R.A.F. wing in Russia last year and has "shown a keen desire to engage the enemy at all times." Since March he has led his flight continuously on all operations.

Bombs Aerodrome
McCaul was the navigator of a bomber which attacked a German aerodrome last July, the citation said. He got his bombs on the target despite intense searchlight activity and anti-aircraft fire and his "accurate navigation in the face of great difficulties was of the highest orders."
Williams "fought the enemy with great determination," his citation said. "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 its base."
Walker and P/O David L. Ramsay, of Calgary, were the only Canadians in the R.A.F. wing which fought in Russia. On his return from Russia early this year Walker described flying in the Murmansk area much the same as winter flying in Canada except that they saw action.

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Born John William Larson, 1 Feb. 1922, in Kamloops, BC
Son of John Sanford Larson (Norwegian) &
Frances Levina Larson (nee Patterson).
Last name changed after mother remarried
Herbert Edward Williams of Chilliwack, B.C.
Educated in Kamloops and Chilliwack (1936-1940).
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) &
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 & Gord Farquharson survived)

Known on Malta as "Willie the Kid"

Award presented to next of kin, 18 May 1944

NOTE: the last three postings appear in pencil in his file and are questionable

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"B" flight 249 Squadron Malta July 1942
"B" Flight 249 Squadron in Malta - early July 1942. From the left - unknown, unknown, S/L Laddie Lucas, Sgt Paul Brennan, unknown, Bob Middlemiss, George Beurling (with bomb), unknown and (I believe)"Willie the Kid". (Lee collection via Osprey Aircraft of The Aces #83 Malta Spitfire Aces by Steve Nichols)

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WILLIAMS, P/O John William (J15604) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.249 Sq.
Award effective 9 Sept 1942 as per London Gazette dated 11 Sept 1942 &
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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Air Force Casualties

Ottawa, Nov. 8, 1942 - (CP) - The R.C.A.F. in its 416th casualty list of the war reported six men killed on active service overseas, six missing after overseas air operations, four killed on active service in Canada, two missing and believed killed during flying operations in Canada, and four missing after flying operations in Canada.
One man was reported to have died of injuries suffered on active service overseas and one man previously reported missing was listed for official purposes presumed dead.
One man was listed as seriously injured on active service in Canada. Following is the latest list of casualties, with next of kin:
GLAZEBROOK, Edwin Herbert, F/O, killed on active service overseas. H. W. Glazebrook (father), Outremont, Que.
WILLIAMS, John William, D.F.C., P/O, killed on active service overseas. H. E. Williams (father), Chilliwack, B.C.
MUTCH, Charles Edward, F/S, killed on active service overseas. Frederick Mutch (father), Clinton, Ont.

Note : Mutch was also killed in the Liberator crash

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Victories Include :

10 or 11 May 1942
12 May 1942
14 May 1942
10 June 1942
15 June 1942
  8 July 1942


10 July 1942
14 July 1942
27 July 1942
27 Aug 1942
  5 Sept 1942
14 Oct 1942
15 Oct 1942
16 Oct 1942
24 Oct 1942		 one Ju.88
one Ju.88
one Me109
one Re2001
one Me109
one Ju.88
one Me109
one Ju.88
one Me109
one Me109
two Me109s
one Ju.87
one Me109
two Me109s
one Ju.88
one Ju.88
one Bf.109		 damaged
damaged
damaged
destroyed or damaged
damaged
destroyed,
destroyed or damaged &
damaged
destroyed
destroyed or damaged
destroyed
probable / OTG (Sicily)
damaged
damaged
probable
destroyed
destroyed

high of    9 / 1 / 8   or  

a low of    6 / 1 / 11 

0 / 1 / 0  OTG

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--- Canadian Aces ---

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On these pages I use info from the Air force Association of Canada's web site
in Hugh Halliday's excellent Honors & Awards section,
newspaper articles via the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC)
as well as other sources both published and private

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