The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. W J Neville

William John Neville was born in Shepperton, Middlesex on 7th January 1914, the son of William James Neville and Julia Kathleen Neville.

His father (born in 1874) is shown in the 1939 register as a retired engineer. Father and son were both shown as living at Cinder Ash, Gaston Bridge Road, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex, with the son's occupation shown as 'licensed ground engineer'.

Neville joined the RAFVR about July 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training at 11 FTS Shawbury on No. 18 Course which ran from 31st January to 29th June 1940.

He arrived at 5 OTU Aston Down on 7th July, converted to Spitfires and joined 610 Squadron at Biggin Hill on 27th July 1940.

Neville made a forced-landing at Potmans Heath Marsh, Wittersham on 8th August in Spitfire L1045. The aircraft overturned but Neville was unhurt.

Three days later Neville was reported ‘Missing’, following a patrol off Calais, in Spitfire R6630.

He was 26 and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 17.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.