The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. W A C Emmett

William Alexander Coote Emmett was born on 7th July 1916 in Camberwell, London and joined the RAF on a short service commission in March 1937. He did his elementary flying at 8 E&RFTS Woodley, was posted to 2 FTS Digby on 5th June and, with his training completed, he joined 25 Squadron at Hawkinge on 1st January 1938.

Emmett served with the squadron throughout the Battle of Britain and was posted away on 31st December 1940 to SRT Catterick. On 5th April 1941 he went to 54 OTU Church Fenton, leaving there on 17th August to join 68 Squadron at High Ercall, operating Beaufighters on night patrols.

He moved to 409 (RCAF) Squadron at Coleby Grange on 2nd April 1942.

In February 1943 Emmett was posted to 51 OTU as an instructor. He was briefly at 60 OTU from mid-May 1943 before going as a liaison officer with 416 Squadron (USAAF).

On 10th August 1943 Emmett went to RAF Nutts Corner as Squadron Leader Admin. In January 1944 he was posted to 105 (Transport) OTU for a conversion course, after which he was seconded to BOAC on 26th April 1944.

Emmett was released from the RAF in April 1946 but rejoined in July 1949, retiring on 30th April 1958 as a Squadron Leader.

He died in July 2007.