John Edwin Ashley Williams | |
|---|---|
 Flight Lieutenant John Williams, c.1941–42 | |
| Nickname(s) | "Willy" |
| Born | 6 May 1919 Wellington, New Zealand |
| Died | 29 March 1944 (aged 24)[1] near Sagan, Germany |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1938–1944 |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Unit | No. 112 Squadron RAF No. 94 Squadron RAF No. 260 Squadron RAF |
| Commands | No. 450 Squadron RAAF |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross Mentioned in Despatches |
Squadron Leader John Edwin Ashley "Willy" Williams DFC (6 May 1919 – 29 March 1944) was an Australian air ace during the Second World War.[2] He served in the Middle East and North Africa with the Royal Air Force (RAF), and was among the Allied prisoners of war (POWs) murdered by the Gestapo following "The Great Escape" in 1944.[3] He commanded No. 450 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force for three days, before he was captured in 1942.
- ^ New Zealand Fighter pilots museum Archived 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Australian Military Units: 40652 Squadron Leader John Edwin Ashley Williams, DFC." Australian War Memorial, 2009. Retrieved: 1 March 2009.
- ^ Edlington, David."The Great Crime: Aussies among Murder Victims". Archived 20 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine Air Force News, vol. 46, no. 5, 8 April 2004. Retrieved: 6 February 2008.