John Edwin Ashley Williams
Encyclopedia
Squadron Leader
John Edwin Ashley "Willy" Williams, DFC
(6 May 1919–29 March 1944) was an Australia
n air ace
during the Second World War
. He served in the Middle East
and North Africa
with the Royal Air Force
(RAF), and was among the Allied
prisoners of war
(POWs) murdered by the Gestapo
, following "The Great Escape", in 1944. He commanded No. 450 Squadron
of the Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF) for three days, before he was captured in 1942.
. According to one source, he grew up in or near the beachside suburb of Manly
and was a champion surfer
.
Willams travelled to the United Kingdom
where he joined the RAF as a Pilot Officer
on a Short Service Commission, in 1938.
, relinquishing the rank on 27 October 1939, and was made a substantive Flying Officer
on 17 August 1940. One year later to the day, he was made a substantive Flight Lieutenant.
On 11 April 1942, Williams received his first combat posting, when he joined No. 112 Squadron RAF
, part of the Desert Air Force
(DAF), flying P-40 Kittyhawks
. Over the next two months, he also served with No. 94 Squadron RAF
and No. 260 Squadron RAF
.
Although he remained an RAF officer, Williams was redeployed to No. 450 Squadron RAAF on 14 June 1942.
During June 1942, he destroyed a Junkers Ju 87
and a Messerschmitt Bf 109
near Gambut. On 5 July, Williams shot down a Junkers Ju 88
belonging to I Staffel
/Lehrgeschwader 1
. Williams scored four victories and two damaged in during his time with No. 450 squadron. These kills are believed to have been scored in Kittyhawk AK634 "OK-M".
In late September, Williams was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
.
During the Second Battle of El Alamein
, DAF Kittyhawks played an important role, carrying out many ground attack sortie
s. During the battle, on 28 October 1942, Williams was promoted to Acting Squadron Leader
and was appointed Commanding Officer of No. 450 Squadron. Three days later, while strafing
a ground target near Buq Buq, he was shot down. Williams' aircraft was accidentally hit by fire from another member of his squadron. He crash landed and was seen to get out of his Kittyhawk safely. The ground was too rough for aircraft to land and pick Williams up. He later became a POW.
Williams had five official victories in air combat at the time of his capture.
Reginald (Reg) Kierath, found themselves imprisoned at Stalag Luft III
, near Sagan
, Germany
.
Both men were among the 76 POWs who escaped during the famous "Great Escape" in March 1944. They were both re-captured and on 29 March, along with three other Australian airmen, were among 50 Stalag Luft III POWs murdered
by the Gestapo. A posthumous Mention in Despatches was published on 8 June 1944. He is buried in the Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery, which is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
.
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
John Edwin Ashley "Willy" Williams, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(6 May 1919–29 March 1944) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n air ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He served in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
with the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF), and was among the Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
(POWs) murdered by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
, following "The Great Escape", in 1944. He commanded No. 450 Squadron
No. 450 Squadron RAAF
No. 450 Squadron was a unit of the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II. It was the second RAAF Article XV squadron formed for service with the British military, under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan...
of the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF) for three days, before he was captured in 1942.
Early years
Willams, who was born to Australian parents in Wellington, New Zealand, was from SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. According to one source, he grew up in or near the beachside suburb of Manly
Manly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
and was a champion surfer
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
.
Willams travelled to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where he joined the RAF as a Pilot Officer
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...
on a Short Service Commission, in 1938.
Second World War
On 14 August 1939 Williams was promoted to Acting Flight LieutenantFlight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
, relinquishing the rank on 27 October 1939, and was made a substantive Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
on 17 August 1940. One year later to the day, he was made a substantive Flight Lieutenant.
On 11 April 1942, Williams received his first combat posting, when he joined No. 112 Squadron RAF
No. 112 Squadron RAF
No. 112 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It served in both the First World War and Second World War and was active for three periods during the Cold War. It is nicknamed "The Shark Squadron", an allusion to the fact that it was the first unit from any air force to use the famous...
, part of the Desert Air Force
Desert Air Force
The Desert Air Force , also known chronologically as Air Headquarters Western Desert, Air Headquarters Libya, AHQ Western Desert, the Western Desert Air Force, Desert Air Force, and the First Tactical Air Force , was an Allied tactical air force initially created from No...
(DAF), flying P-40 Kittyhawks
Curtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
. Over the next two months, he also served with No. 94 Squadron RAF
No. 94 Squadron RAF
No. 94 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force that served during World War I & World War II. The squadron has been formed a total of four times.The squadron was formed at RAF Harling Road on 1 August 1917, as a training unit for the Sopwith Camel...
and No. 260 Squadron RAF
No. 260 Squadron RAF
No. 260 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as a reconnaissance and anti–submarine unit in World War I and a fighter unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:No...
.
Although he remained an RAF officer, Williams was redeployed to No. 450 Squadron RAAF on 14 June 1942.
During June 1942, he destroyed a Junkers Ju 87
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
and a Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
near Gambut. On 5 July, Williams shot down a Junkers Ju 88
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
belonging to I Staffel
Staffel
Staffel may refer to:* Staffel** Staffelkapitän, a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe** Schutz Staffel** DDR-Liga Staffel A** 5th Staffel of Kampfgeschwader 200, an unit** Propaganda-Staffel- Family name :...
/Lehrgeschwader 1
Lehrgeschwader 1
Lehrgeschwader 1 formerly Lehrgeschwader Greifswald was a Luftwaffe multi-purpose unit during World War II, operating fighter, bomber and dive-bomber Gruppen. The unit was formed in July 1936...
. Williams scored four victories and two damaged in during his time with No. 450 squadron. These kills are believed to have been scored in Kittyhawk AK634 "OK-M".
In late September, Williams was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
.
During the Second Battle of El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
, DAF Kittyhawks played an important role, carrying out many ground attack sortie
Sortie
Sortie is a term for deployment or dispatch of one military unit, be it an aircraft, ship, or troops from a strongpoint. The sortie, whether by one or more aircraft or vessels, usually has a specific mission....
s. During the battle, on 28 October 1942, Williams was promoted to Acting Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
and was appointed Commanding Officer of No. 450 Squadron. Three days later, while strafing
Strafing
Strafing is the practice of attacking ground targets from low-flying aircraft using aircraft-mounted automatic weapons. This means, that although ground attack using automatic weapons fire is very often accompanied with bombing or rocket fire, the term "strafing" does not specifically include the...
a ground target near Buq Buq, he was shot down. Williams' aircraft was accidentally hit by fire from another member of his squadron. He crash landed and was seen to get out of his Kittyhawk safely. The ground was too rough for aircraft to land and pick Williams up. He later became a POW.
Williams had five official victories in air combat at the time of his capture.
Death
By early 1944, Williams and another 450 Sqn officer, Flight LieutenantFlight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
Reginald (Reg) Kierath, found themselves imprisoned at Stalag Luft III
Stalag Luft III
Stalag Luft III was a Luftwaffe-run prisoner-of-war camp during World War II that housed captured air force servicemen. It was in the German Province of Lower Silesia near the town of Sagan , southeast of Berlin...
, near Sagan
Zagan
Zagan may refer to:*Zagan - a demon in the Ars Goetia*Żagań - a town in west Poland...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Both men were among the 76 POWs who escaped during the famous "Great Escape" in March 1944. They were both re-captured and on 29 March, along with three other Australian airmen, were among 50 Stalag Luft III POWs murdered
Stalag Luft III murders
The Stalag Luft III murders was a war crime perpetrated by members of the Gestapo following the "Great Escape" of Allied prisoners of war from the German Air Force prison camp known as Stalag Luft III on March 25, 1944. Of a total of 76 successful escapees, 73 were recaptured, mostly within days of...
by the Gestapo. A posthumous Mention in Despatches was published on 8 June 1944. He is buried in the Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery, which is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves, and places of commemoration, of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars...
.