Sad news.
Well into his ninth decade, he was still enthusiastically working on his self-designed, home-built amphibian in the hangar at Old Sarum.
He once broke off from his work on “the boat” to talk Luton Minors. He’d started to build a Minor from the original plans in 1938, as well as owning a Chrislea Airguard, G-AFIN, but of course war and the RAF intervened.
He became a PoW after his Sunderland flying boat capsised after hitting submerged object while landing off Crete. He was moved to Colditz after proving a keen tunneller at his previous accommodation!
When he and Jack Best hatched the glider scheme in Colditz, the design was largely based on a book of aerodynamics found in the prison library, along with his memory of the Luton plans. Minus of course the engine and with a passenger seated inside the fuselage behind the pilot!
Bill then bought a set of post-war Luton plans and finally completed his own example in 1970. He was clearly delighted to hear that G-AYDY was under restoration to fly again in the near future.
A remarkable man. And a true enthusiast of flying, for flying’s sake.
Happy landings Bill.
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