ASSHETON, William Radclyffe
Stats:
rank: S/Lstatus: survived
airforce: RAF (no: 41979 )
born: 1917-12-12 United Kingdom
added by: Red Dragon
add
All Images:
Bio / Text:
William Radclyffe ASSHETON DFC
Born on 12th December 1917 in Kent and attended Sherborne School in Dorset. He went on to study Electrical Engineering at Jesus College, Cambridge but before completing his degree he joined the RAF on a short service commission in early 1939.
He was posted to 222 Squadron at Duxford in early November.
In August 1940 the squadron was at Hornchurch. On the 30th Assheton crash-landed at Bekesbourne Aerodrome in Spitfire R6720 after combat over Canterbury.
On 11th September he made a forced-landing on Parsonage Farm, Fletching, in Spitfire R6638, after an action over the Maidstone area.
Assheton's third escape came on 20th September when he baled out with slight burns, after being shot down in a surprise attack by Me109's over the Thames Estuary. He landed at Latchington and was admitted to St. Peter's Hospital, Maldon.
His Spitfire, K9993, crashed and burned out at Linkhouse Farm, West Hanningfield.
On 14th December 1940 Assheton joined 611 Squadron but was posted two weeks later on 29th December 1940 for an Instructors Course at the Central Flying School at Upavon.
35 SFTS (Service Flying Training School) was formed in July 1941 and opened for training on 1st September 1942 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. According to the North Battleford News a group of around 700 flying and ground personnel from the RAF arrived on 22nd July. Assheton was probably part of this group as he was performing Instructing and ferrying duties from 18th September 1941.
On 6th November 1941 Assheton was promoted to F/L.
On 20th-21st June 1942 Assheton was posted from 35 SFTS to RCAF Station Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada joining the 133 (Fighter) Squadron RCAF there.
No. 133 (Fighter) Squadron was a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) unit formed at RCAF Station Lethbridge, Alberta, in June 1942, flying Hawker Hurricanes and Harvards, serving as a Home Defence squadron before moving to Boundary Bay, British Columbia, to protect the coast, playing a role in Canada's WWII air defence.
Assheton arrived in Boundary Bay October 12th 1942.
On 4th May 1944 Assheton was posted to 540 Squadron a Mosquito photographic-reconnaissance unit.
In 1945 Assheton was awarded the DFC (gazzetted 10th April 1945) for service with 540 Squadron and continued with the squadron until after the war.
He remained in the RAF, graduated from the RAF Staff College and retired on 22nd November 1957 as a Squadron Leader.
He then moved to Spain where he died on 4th November 2009.
Ref:- Battle of Britain London Monument
Born on 12th December 1917 in Kent and attended Sherborne School in Dorset. He went on to study Electrical Engineering at Jesus College, Cambridge but before completing his degree he joined the RAF on a short service commission in early 1939.
He was posted to 222 Squadron at Duxford in early November.
In August 1940 the squadron was at Hornchurch. On the 30th Assheton crash-landed at Bekesbourne Aerodrome in Spitfire R6720 after combat over Canterbury.
On 11th September he made a forced-landing on Parsonage Farm, Fletching, in Spitfire R6638, after an action over the Maidstone area.
Assheton's third escape came on 20th September when he baled out with slight burns, after being shot down in a surprise attack by Me109's over the Thames Estuary. He landed at Latchington and was admitted to St. Peter's Hospital, Maldon.
His Spitfire, K9993, crashed and burned out at Linkhouse Farm, West Hanningfield.
On 14th December 1940 Assheton joined 611 Squadron but was posted two weeks later on 29th December 1940 for an Instructors Course at the Central Flying School at Upavon.
35 SFTS (Service Flying Training School) was formed in July 1941 and opened for training on 1st September 1942 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. According to the North Battleford News a group of around 700 flying and ground personnel from the RAF arrived on 22nd July. Assheton was probably part of this group as he was performing Instructing and ferrying duties from 18th September 1941.
On 6th November 1941 Assheton was promoted to F/L.
On 20th-21st June 1942 Assheton was posted from 35 SFTS to RCAF Station Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada joining the 133 (Fighter) Squadron RCAF there.
No. 133 (Fighter) Squadron was a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) unit formed at RCAF Station Lethbridge, Alberta, in June 1942, flying Hawker Hurricanes and Harvards, serving as a Home Defence squadron before moving to Boundary Bay, British Columbia, to protect the coast, playing a role in Canada's WWII air defence.
Assheton arrived in Boundary Bay October 12th 1942.
On 4th May 1944 Assheton was posted to 540 Squadron a Mosquito photographic-reconnaissance unit.
In 1945 Assheton was awarded the DFC (gazzetted 10th April 1945) for service with 540 Squadron and continued with the squadron until after the war.
He remained in the RAF, graduated from the RAF Staff College and retired on 22nd November 1957 as a Squadron Leader.
He then moved to Spain where he died on 4th November 2009.
Ref:- Battle of Britain London Monument
Spitfire Art Prints:
post
Comments / Questions:
post