The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. G T Williams

Gwilym Trevor Williams was born on 11th October 1916 and joined the RAF in 1934 as an Aircrafthand. After the outbreak of war he remustered as an Airman u/t Air Gunner. With his training completed, he was posted to 219 Squadron at Catterick in May 1940.

He served with the squadron throughout the Battle of Britain. After the arrival of the Beaufighter and the increasing use of airborne radar, Williams retrained as a Radio Observer.

He was awarded the DFM (gazetted 30th May 1941) as a Flight Sergeant with 219. He had then assisted in the destruction of three enemy aircraft at night.

Promoted to Warrant Officer on 1st March 1942, Williams was commissioned in May. In the Far East at the end of the war, he was made an OBE (gazetted 13th June 1946) as an Acting Squadron Leader.

This was given for services in Malaya after the Japanese capitulation.

Williams retired from the RAF on 11th October 1972 as a Squadron Leader.

He died in 1993 in Harrogate.