Info 501 squadron Flt Lt E S Williams

E S Williams came from Warmley Bristol. Have a photocopy of the log book and a pre war diary of his with Filton connections.
The log book was found local to Bristol.

My very tatty tunic.

Just been told on Military Badge Forum that the wing is ok, PHEW!…………………………As for it being on this tunic and a hundred other questions, I just don’t know………………:confused:
Williams came from Bristol area…………..
[ATTACH=CONFIG]239924[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]239925[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]239926[/ATTACH]

I purchased it here in Lincoln. So lots of RAF bases around. I just looked for more info and found this thread.

Hi Charles,
Interesting, was this trunk a recent find / purchase? if so, could you tell roughly which part of the country it came from? (presuming UK) anywhere near Bristol?!
ESW’s log book is, or was for sale recently, together with a Hurricane door, serial of which is known and appears in the log if I remember correctly, TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME!
I recently took a knowing risk on a very tired Auxiliary tunic, named to ESW………….as I say it was a risk and could be simply ‘badged up’, having trouble finding any info on it…..whether it is genuine or not, etc…..Going to post images here I think. The Dealer didn’t sell the tunic as belonging to ESW, and made no claims whatsoever.
I am wondering whether for whatever reason, all these items came on to the market at the same time.
Shame there are no more details on the trunk.

E.S. Williams

I have a steel RAF WW2 trunk with the name E.S. Williams on it with the letters F/O blanked out before the name.[ATTACH=CONFIG]239900[/ATTACH]

Crossfire54

You asked me about the Sqn Code, I think we can conclude that L2055 was coded ‘K’ (at least in Nov 1939) based on the evidence of the ORB Appendices and the Log Book

If he was injured it probably happened at 5 OTU – but anyway there appears that there was something or some reason that caused him to be taken off flying duties

“Just found out he went to 5 OTU as instructor after BoF and has two Do 17 claims “

I got this info from “Those Other Eagles” by Chris Shores. Actually it says the following “He was posted to the UK on 13 June, when he became an instructor at 5 OTU. A week later he was transferred to HQ 10 Group and on 4th June 1941 he went from the General Duties branch to the Administration and General Duties Branch for no flying duties”

Claims (2 Destroyed)

11 May Do 17 in and 13 May Do 17 both in Hurricane I

May 10 1940 ,13:30 hrs sqdn move Tangmere to Bethiville France. L2055.
May 11 05:00 hrs patrol Vouziers-Valnay. Many E/A Do17 shot down.L2055.
May 12, 16:30 hrs attacked 5 Dorniers / believed 1 down/ engine put u/s
L2055.
Entries after this date stop.
Returned from Nantes to Hendon with flt lt Glover as passenger on board Harrow k7011 (?) 12 June 1940.
Nothing further until july 27 .St Eval to Exeter.Magister N3835 as padsenger with F/O Igglesdon.return triptp Exeter.
Last entry .
Perhaps ES Williams was injured in France

28 Nov 1939 09:00; Filton to Tangmere sqdn move. Hurricane L2055.

Just found out he went to 5 OTU as instructor after BoF and has two Do 17 claims

Jan 4 AFL

Finds him 90021 – E. Seymour “Wing Commander”. Directorate-General of Postings 23 Feb 1941

I wonder if he had an accident after June 1940 that precluded him for flying?

The last AFL I have access to (April 1945) him has him Sqn Ldr with Seniority 1941

According to the London Gazette he was still with the Auxiliary Air Force on 10/2/54 when he was reappointed to the acting rank of Wing Commander as a substantive Squadron Leader

So a very long RAF career if he stopped flying in 1940

A little background

Edward Seymour Williams was the sons of Sir John Lloyd Vaughan Seymour Williams who was knighted in 1925 and died in 1945

His background is therefore very typical of the pre-war Auxiliary Pilots and by profession he was a Solicitor

Air Force List Dec 1940

90021 E. S. Williams FL Seniority 12. 3.40

Air Force List Jan 1942

90021 E. Seymour. Williams FL (ASD) Seniority 12. 3.40 — Administrative and Special Duties

Jan 4 AFL

Finds him 90021 – E. Seymour “Wing Commander”. Directorate-General of Postings 23 Feb 1941

I wonder if he had an accident after June 1940 that precluded him for flying?

The last AFL I have access to (April 1945) him has him Sqn Ldr with Seniority 1941

Appears that by 1966 he was back in Bristol as a Justice of peace: Edward Seymour Williams, Dodington Manor, Chipping Sodbury. Bristol and still around in 1975

Jan 1940 ORB

He was flying L2055 (as you refer) on Service Training on 1/1/1940 (two flights) and it appears it was his regular mount for whole of Jan 1940, except when he flew Tutor K3443 on Refresher training L2055 was in mount during Feb 1940 and most of March. He started flying L2045 then (27 March) does his logbook provide a code? He flew Hind L7226 on 28th March 1940 with Sqd/Ldr Stokes and back on L2055 in April 1940 In May 1940 he was in France and claimed a Do 17 on the 11th May he flew with Sqn in Battle Of France and posted back to the UK on 13th June when it appears he left the Sqn

Does his logbook cover the retreat from France and his flights ?? This period is not very well documented in respect to 501 Sqn

11th June 1941 – Hurricane I – L2055 – 56 OTU – spun into ground West Walton, Norfolk.

Thanks to http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?3006-Unaccounted-airmen-11-6-1941

From the ORB Appendices

I can see he flew “K” to Tangmere via Andover from Filton on 28th November 1939? – Does he list a serial for this date ?

I have a copy of the Pre war 501 Sqn ORB he was Edward Seymour Williams

He was granted a commission as Pilot Officer with effect from 19.7.36 (Auxiliary Officer) Awarded Flying Badge 8.4.37 and King George (VI) Coronation Medal 12.4.37

on Jan 11 1938 he passed Armament Exam the First Officer with effect 19th Jan 1938 By the end of 1938 he was OC of ‘B’ Flight and he was Acting Flt/Lt by end of August 1939 and Flight Lt by end of 1939