Bill Loxton
Encyclopedia
Wilfrid William Loxton known as Bill Loxton, was a British Royal Air Force pilot
during the Battle of Britain
.
Loxton was born in Gretton, Gloucestershire
, the son of Ernest Robert Loxton and Mary Ann Loxton (née Minett). After training as a carpenter, he joined the RAF on 30 April 1930.
Following several promotions, he became Squadron Leader of No 25 Blenheim Squadron (Feriens Tego – Striking I defend). No 25 Squadron was formed at RAF Montrose
, on 25 September 1915, as a Fighter/Bomber Squadron equipped with F.E.2bs. The Squadron became a nightfighter unit in 1938; it was re-equipped with Blenheim IF
s that year, and also acquired Blenheim Vs equipped with A1 radar. In September 1940 Bristol Beaufighter
s became available to the Squadron; these were operational on 10 October 1940. The Squadron took part in the Battle of Britain
and its pilots joined the ranks of ‘the few
’.
As a member of ‘the few’ Loxton was commemorated by name on the Battle of Britain Memorial which was unveiled by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall
on 18 September 2005.
He remained in the RAF until retirement, attaining the rank of Wing Commander
. He married Binkie Pattullo on 6 August 1938 and had two sons, Peter and David. Peter married Heather Loxton; daughter of Archie Forbes
Bill was a very keen fisherman and spent many holidays fishing the rivers of Scotland. He especially enjoyed Salmon fishing, though he was a keen sea angler as well. On 30 August 1961 he won £1,895 on the Littlewoods Pools.
In 1976, he was featured with his Grandson, Charlie, in Harpers & Queen Magazine in the US.
After retiring to Berkshire
and then finally Dorset
, he died whilst living in Puddletown
. He is buried, next to his son Peter, in Bere Regis
churchyard, Dorset.
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
.
Loxton was born in Gretton, Gloucestershire
Gretton, Gloucestershire
Gretton is a small village located at the foot of the western scarp of the Cotswolds, about 9 miles north of Cheltenham in the English county of Gloucestershire....
, the son of Ernest Robert Loxton and Mary Ann Loxton (née Minett). After training as a carpenter, he joined the RAF on 30 April 1930.
Following several promotions, he became Squadron Leader of No 25 Blenheim Squadron (Feriens Tego – Striking I defend). No 25 Squadron was formed at RAF Montrose
RAF Montrose
RAF Montrose was a Royal Air Force station in Forfarshire in Scotland.In 1912, the British government planned twelve "Air Stations" operated by the Royal Flying Corps...
, on 25 September 1915, as a Fighter/Bomber Squadron equipped with F.E.2bs. The Squadron became a nightfighter unit in 1938; it was re-equipped with Blenheim IF
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
s that year, and also acquired Blenheim Vs equipped with A1 radar. In September 1940 Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Beaufighter
The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design...
s became available to the Squadron; these were operational on 10 October 1940. The Squadron took part in the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
and its pilots joined the ranks of ‘the few
Never was so much owed by so many to so few
Never was so much owed by so many to so few was a wartime speech made by the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on 20 August 1940. The name stems from the specific line in the speech, Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few, referring to the ongoing efforts...
’.
As a member of ‘the few’ Loxton was commemorated by name on the Battle of Britain Memorial which was unveiled by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall
Duchess of Cornwall
The Duchess of Cornwall is the title held by the wife of the Duke of Cornwall. Duke of Cornwall is a non-hereditary peerage held by the British Sovereign's eldest son and heir....
on 18 September 2005.
He remained in the RAF until retirement, attaining the rank of Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
. He married Binkie Pattullo on 6 August 1938 and had two sons, Peter and David. Peter married Heather Loxton; daughter of Archie Forbes
Archie Forbes
Archibald Peter Sturrock Forbes CBE, known as Archie Forbes , was a British Colonial Officer who rose to become the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture & Cooperative Development in Tanganyika .He married Mary Manning on 10 June 1939; they had two children.Forbes was born...
Bill was a very keen fisherman and spent many holidays fishing the rivers of Scotland. He especially enjoyed Salmon fishing, though he was a keen sea angler as well. On 30 August 1961 he won £1,895 on the Littlewoods Pools.
In 1976, he was featured with his Grandson, Charlie, in Harpers & Queen Magazine in the US.
After retiring to Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
and then finally Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, he died whilst living in Puddletown
Puddletown
Puddletown is a village in Dorset, England, 5 miles east of Dorchester in the River Piddle valley. The village has a population of 1,177 , of which 30.3% are retired....
. He is buried, next to his son Peter, in Bere Regis
Bere Regis
Bere Regis is a village in the Purbeck district of Dorset, England, situated north-west of Wareham.The village has one shop, a post office and two pubs, The Royal Oak and The Drax Arms. The parish church is St. John the Baptist Church...
churchyard, Dorset.