The Airmen's Stories - AC1 W E Reece
William Edwin Reece joined the RAFVR at Padgate in June 1940 on ground duties.
He
volunteered for aircrew duties and went on a short signals and radar course at the
Signals School, Middle Wallop, after which he was posted to the Fighter Interception
Unit on 15th September as a radar operator.
Reece flew two operational sorties on 10th October 1940, on the second of which a
contact was made at 17000 feet. The FIU Blenheim was unable to reach a high enough
speed to make an attack.
On 13th October P/O CAG Clark took up Blenheim L6805 with Reece and AC1 FH Mitchell as crew to operate as a target aircraft for an AI-equipped Boston. Due to an error in the use of the fuel cocks, he experienced engine failure and made a crash-landing near Lancing College. The aircraft was written off but they were unhurt.
Reece was still flying operationally with the FIU in December 1941, he was commisioned on 17th February 1942.
His subsequent service is currently undocumented but it is believed that he survived the war.
FIGHTER INTERCEPTION UNIT 1942
REAR ROW:
F/Sgt. Tony Austin, F/Sgt. EF Le Conte, WO Donald Owens, P/O Roy Brookes, P/O Frank Mitchell, P/O William Reece, F/Sgt. Robert Yuile, F/Sgt. Douglas Beale(?), F/Sgt. Jack Blair.
FRONT ROW:
F/O R Ryalls, F/Lt. H Randall AFC, S/Ldr. Norman Hayes DFC, W/Cdr. Donald Evans, S/Ldr. G Ashfield AFC, F/Lt. Geoffrey Park, F/O the Hon. Kenneth Davison.
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