Flt Lt William James 'Bill' Green April 1917-November 2014

摘要

Battle of Britain Hurricane pilot Bill Green died in a care home in Clevedon, Somerset, on 7 November at the age of 97. William James Green was born on 23 April 1917 in Easton, Bristol, the son of a regular soldier, and attended the St Gabriel School. He left at 14 years old to work in a cardboard box factory. In October 1936 Bill was working for Marden, Son and Hall, one of the leading carton manufacturers in Europe, a company that encouraged its employees to join the Territorial Army, Navy, or the RAF reserve. He therefore joined No 501 'County of Gloucester' Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force at Filton as an Aircraftsman 2nd Class, Fitter Aero under Training. Just after the Munich crisis in 1938, a friend informed Bill that he was moving to the other side of the airfield to become a pilot in the RAF Volunteer Reserve. Bill liked the idea and went to see his CO, who told him in confidence that the squadron was to get an establishment of six NCO pilots and that he could train as one of these. Bill was partly trained when he was called to full-time service on 24 August 1939, having only completed 10 hours dual on Avro Tutors. He was posted to No 5 Elementary Flying Training School at Hanworth in October 1939, where he flew 50 hours in Miles Magisters. During March 1940 he went to No 3 Flying Training School at South Cemey, completing 110 hours on Hawker Harts during intermediate and advanced training. Bill was promoted to Corporal when he was awarded his 'wings', and was made up to Sergeant in July 1940 on completion of the course.