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William Strugnell

Group Captain William Victor Strugnell MC & Bar (23 July 1892 – 1977) was a British First World War flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1] He went on to a long career in the Royal Air Force, and serving throughout the Second World War.

William Victor Strugnell
Nickname(s)Struggy
Born(1892-07-23)23 July 1892
Southampton, England
Died1977 (aged 84–85)
Dorset, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchBritish Army
Royal Air Force
Years of servicec.1907–1945
RankGroup captain
Unit
Commands
Battles / warsWorld War I
 • Western Front
World War II
AwardsMilitary Cross & Bar

Early military service

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Strugnell's father was a sergeant major. At the age of 15, Strugnell joined the Royal Engineers as a bugler. He then transferred to the Hampshire Regiment as a sapper, before being seconded to the Royal Flying Corps soon after its formation on 13 April 1912, serving as an Air Mechanic in No. 3 Squadron RFC from 13 May.[2] Strugnell trained as a pilot, and was granted Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate No. 253 on 24 July 1912, after a soloing a Bristol biplane at the Army School on Salisbury Plain,[3] being the third non-commissioned officer in the British military to receive a pilot's license.[4] He later served in No. 5 Squadron RFC.[4]

World War I

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On 27 June 1915 Strugnell, then a sergeant, was appointed a flying officer[5] and commissioned as a second lieutenant for service in the field.[6] He was posted to No. 1 Squadron RFC, and on 5 February 1916, piloted a Morane-Saulnier L that drove down an Aviatik C.I reconnaissance aircraft for his first victory.[1][7] Soon after, on 12 February 1916, he was appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain.[8]

Strugnell served as a flight commander in No. 43 Squadron RFC, from its formation at Stirling on 15 April 1916.[9] On 3 June 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross "for Distinguished Service in the Field".[10]

Strugnell spent some time on instruction duty before returning to action flying a Sopwith Pup in No. 54 Squadron RFC as flight commander of "A" Flight.[7] On 19 March 1917, he shared in the setting on fire of a German reconnaissance aircraft. On 14 April and 1 May, he sent another reconnaissance aircraft and an Albatros D.III down out of control. On 11 May 1917, he shared in the destruction of another reconnaissance aircraft, and soon after single-handedly destroyed an Albatros D.III.[1]

On 24 July 1917 his award of a Bar to his Military Cross was gazetted. His citation read:

Lieutenant (temporary Captain) William Victor Strugnell, MC, Hampshire Regiment and Royal Flying Corps.
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While leading an offensive patrol he attacked and brought down a hostile machine. Later, in the same patrol, he brought down a second machine. In all he has accounted for five machines and a kite balloon."[11]

On 1 September 1917 Strugnell was appointed a squadron commander with the acting rank of major.[12]

List of aerial victories

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Combat record[1]
No. Date/Time Aircraft/
Serial No. 		Opponent Result Location Notes
No. 1 Squadron RFC
1 5 February 1916
@c. 1120		 Morane-Saulnier L
(5068)		 Aviatik C.I Out of control South-east of Armentières
No. 54 Squadron RFC
2 19 March 1917
@ 0745		 Sopwith Pup Type C (reconnaissance aircraft) Destroyed in flames Roisel Shared with Lieutenant E. J. Y. Grevelink
3 14 April 1917
@ 0815		 Sopwith Pup
(A7306)		 Type C Out of control Buissy–Inchy
4 1 May 1917
@ 0710		 Sopwith Pup
(A7306)		 Albatros D.III Out of control East of St. Quentin
5 11 May 1917
@ 1840		 Sopwith Pup
(A6168)		 Type C Destroyed Walincourt Shared with Major C. E. Sutcliffe, and Lieutenants Maurice Scott, Oliver Sutton, E. J. Y. Grevelink & M. B. Cole.
6 11 May 1917
@ 1910		 Sopwith Pup
(A6168)		 Albatros D.III Destroyed Beaurevoir

Inter-war career

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On 1 August 1919 Strugnell was granted a permanent commission in the RAF with the rank of major (squadron leader).[13] He was posted to No. 1 Flying Training School (Inland Area), before being briefly attached the School of Military Administration at Chiseldon from 23 September[14] to 1 November 1921, after which he was assigned to the RAF Depot (Inland Area) as a supernumerary officer.[15]

On 14 September 1922 he was posted to the RAF Aircraft Depot in Iraq,[16] transferring to the Engine Repair Depot, Egypt, on 18 October 1924,[17] before eventually returning to the UK when posted to the RAF Depot, Uxbridge, on his transfer to the Home Establishment on 9 May 1926.[18] From 1 September 1926 Strugnell served at the headquarters of No. 21 (Training) Group at RAF West Drayton.[19]

On 1 July 1928 he was promoted to wing commander,[20] and on 1 September was appointed Officer Commanding of No. 9 Squadron, based at RAF Manston,[21] forming part of No. 51 (Night Bomber) Wing. In August 1930 the Vickers Virginia bombers of No. 51 Wing formed part of the "Blue" forces in the annual RAF Exercises.[22] On 10 January 1931 Strugnell was posted to the Home Aircraft Depot at RAF Henlow for administrative duties.[23]

He was promoted to group captain on 3 July 1934,[24] returning to the Middle East to serve as commander of No. 1 Armoured Car Company at RAF Hinaidi, Iraq, until 19 February 1935.[25] He then commanded the Reception Depot at West Drayton from 3 April 1935,[26] and was station commander of RAF Manston from 10 August 1935.[27]

World War II service

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Strugnell served throughout the Second World War. He was a station commander in Algeria in 1943,[28] and received a mention in despatches on 8 June 1944.[29] He retired from the RAF on 7 June 1945,[30] only a month after the end of the war on Europe.

On 12 February 1951, he was commissioned as a flight lieutenant (Class J) in the Royal Air Force Reserve of Officers,[31] relinquishing his commission exactly eight years later on 12 February 1959.[32]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "William Victor Strugnell". The Aerodrome. 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  2. ^ Yoxall, John (17 March 1949). "No. 3 Fighter Squadron: The Story of our Oldest "Heavier-than-Air" Unit and its Antecedents". Flight. LV (2099): 316. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Aviators' Certificates". Flight. IV (187): 667. 27 July 1912. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  4. ^ a b Franks (2005), p. 20.
  5. ^ "No. 29273". The London Gazette. 24 August 1915. p. 8396.
  6. ^ "No. 29250". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 August 1915. p. 7649.
  7. ^ a b Shores, Franks & Guest (1990), p. 354.
  8. ^ "No. 29511". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 March 1916. p. 2916.
  9. ^ Robertson, F.A. de V. (19 September 1930). "No. 43 (Fighter) Squadron". Flight. XXII (1134): 1042–1047. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  10. ^ "No. 29608". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1916. p. 5577.
  11. ^ "No. 30204". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 July 1917. p. 7621.
  12. ^ "No. 30262". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 August 1917. p. 9088.
  13. ^ "No. 31486". The London Gazette. 1 August 1919. p. 9866.
  14. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XIII (662): 558. 1 September 1921. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  15. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XIII (673): 770. 17 November 1921. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  16. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XIV (720): 598. 12 October 1922. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  17. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XVI (829): 725. 13 November 1924. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  18. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XVIII (911): 339. 10 June 1926. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  19. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XVIII (923): 557. 2 September 1926. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  20. ^ "No. 33400". The London Gazette. 3 June 1928. p. 4501.
  21. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XX (1030): 827. 20 September 1928. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  22. ^ Robertson, F. A. De V. (15 August 1930). "R.A.F. Exercises: Blue Andover versus Red Cranwell". Flight. XXII (1129): 993. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  23. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXIII (1155): 151. 13 February 1931. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  24. ^ "No. 34066". The London Gazette. 3 July 1934. p. 4233.
  25. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXVII (1370): 335. 28 March 1935. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  26. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXVII (1374): 448. 25 April 1935. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  27. ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXVIII (1392): 233. 29 August 1935. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  28. ^ "Service Aviation". Flight. XLIV (1803): 79. 15 July 1943. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  29. ^ "No. 36544". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1944. p. 2613.
  30. ^ "No. 37280". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 September 1945. p. 4743.
  31. ^ "No. 39182". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 March 1951. p. 1624.
  32. ^ "No. 41699". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 May 1959. p. 2930.

Bibliography

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