Operation: Armed reconnaissance

Date: 22nd December 1944 (Friday)

Unit: No. 486 Squadron (122 Wing, 83 Group)

Type: Tempest V

Serial: EJ715

Code: SA-?

Base: B80, Volkel, Netherlands

Location: Losser

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Stamford Seaton Williams MiD. NZ/412297 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Research courtesy of Mr. Gerry Wright:

Taking off from Volkel in the Netherlands with 3 others from the Squadron at 14:40 hrs, on an armed reconnaissance operation in the Munster area of Germany. One of the section returned to base almost immediately with an oil leak. This was his 241st operational flight. When near Munster the weather became so bad that Bill instructed the section of aircraft to turn back. The section turned and set a course for the base. The visibility in the area had reduced to half a mile.

The section came upon a small village at 15:35hrs over which they were committed to fly as they were almost on top of it before it was sighted. Intense anti-aircraft fire was met from the town and the section took evasive action.

Bill's aircraft was hit by flak and was seen to crash in an apparently flat position, skid along, and then explode. The rest of the section returned to their base badly damaged. Bill was posted missing, believed killed in action.

Grave photo at Losser Roman Catholic Churchyard (courtesy Paul ten Broeke)

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. Stamford Seaton Williams MiD. Losser Roman Catholic Churchyard, Plot 5. Born on the 04th February 1920, the son of James Gordon Williams and Ethel Winifred Williams, of Orini, Waikato, New Zealand. Enlisted at Levin on 13 April 1941 and on completing his initial training was posted to No 2 Elementary Flying Training School at New Plymouth. On 22 July 1941 he embarked for Canada for further training. His logbook records 830 hours flying as a pilot and 241 operations. This was his 161 operational sortie with the squadron.

Researched by Gerry Wright and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Gerry Wright for his extensive research, Paul ten Broeke for grave photograph, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2024 Last Modified: 01 April 2021, 15:23