South African War Graves Project -

Son of Stuart Forbes Williams and Lilian Ernestine Williams, of Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa. Of New Zealand. "One of the few" Battle of Britian pilot. Born in Dunedin, New Zealand. A bank clerk. Applied for a short service commission in the RAF in June 1938. He was provisionally accepted in November and sailed for the UK on 1st February 1939 in the RMS Tainui. Williams began his training at 11 E&RFTS Perth on 13th March, moved to 9 FTS Hullavington on 26th May and was awarded his flying badge on 29th August. He was posted to the newly-reformed 266 Squadron at Sutton Bridge on 6th November 1939. The squadron was due to be equipped with Fairey Battles but in January 1940 it began to receive Spitfires. On 12th August 1940 Williams attacked a Ju88, setting it on fire. His Spitfire, N3175, was badly damaged in the engagement and he made a belly-landing at Bembridge, Isle of Wight. The aircraft was in flames and Williams just managed to scramble clear before it exploded. On the 18th he destroyed a Me109 over Dover and on 7th September he shared in destroying a Do17, shot down in flames over the Scheldt Estuary after a chase across the Channel

Age:	20
Date of Birth:	1920-09-28
Service No:	42173
Rank:	Pilot Officer
Unit:	266 Sqdn.
Regiment:	Royal Air Force
Date of Death:	1940-10-21
Cause of Death:	Died in Aircraft Accident, Spitfire I X4265, took of from Wittering to intercept a raid on Cambridge. After the action he landed at Stradishall to refuel. He took off again and, according to a witness, he flew low across the airfield and then seemed to stall. His engine cut out and he crashed and was killed

Cemetery:	STRADISHALL (ST. MARGARET) CHURCHYARD

Localitly:	Suffolk
Country:	United Kingdom

Decorations:	Mentioned in Despatches
Citations:	LG Sup 17 March 1941 pg. 1575
Son of Stuart Forbes Williams and Lilian Ernestine Williams, of Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa. Of New Zealand. "One of the few" Battle of Britian pilot. Born in Dunedin, New Zealand. A bank clerk. Applied for a short service commission in the RAF in June 1938. He was provisionally accepted in November and sailed for the UK on 1st February 1939 in the RMS Tainui. Williams began his training at 11 E&RFTS Perth on 13th March, moved to 9 FTS Hullavington on 26th May and was awarded his flying badge on 29th August. He was posted to the newly-reformed 266 Squadron at Sutton Bridge on 6th November 1939. The squadron was due to be equipped with Fairey Battles but in January 1940 it began to receive Spitfires. On 12th August 1940 Williams attacked a Ju88, setting it on fire. His Spitfire, N3175, was badly damaged in the engagement and he made a belly-landing at Bembridge, Isle of Wight. The aircraft was in flames and Williams just managed to scramble clear before it exploded. On the 18th he destroyed a Me109 over Dover and on 7th September he shared in destroying a Do17, shot down in flames over the Scheldt Estuary after a chase across the Channel