Back WATKINS William Edwin
Service Number 162644 (1317496)
P/O 26th Nov. 1943. (Gazette Issue 36323 published on the 7 January 1944. Page 4 of 8)
F/O 26th May 1944. (Gazette Issue 36577 published on the 20 June 1944. Page 3 of 8)
F/Lt 26th Nov 1945 (Gazette Issue 37398 published on the 18 December 1945. Page 4 of 6)
Date A/C Crew Duty Up Down Details of Sortie or Flight
19-May-43 P.7089 Sgt W.E. Watkins Roadstead     Repetition of previous days uneventful search for minesweepers Channel Islands – Brehat
29-May-43 P.7013 Sgt W.E. Watkins Scramble 17:15 18:45 These sections patrolled base at 5,000ft
13-Jul-43 P.7097 Sgt W.E. Watkins Shipping Recco 16:00 17:15 The area searched comprised the Channel Island area and as far as the Ile Brehat.
15-Aug-43 P.6997 Sgt W.E. Watkins 10 Group Circus 15:00 16:20 This operation to dive-bomb Guipavas aerodrome. S/Ldr Baker returned with exactor trouble. F/Lt McClure found 10/10 cloud and operation abandoned
17-Aug-43 P.7096 Sgt W.E. Watkins 10 Group Ramrod 08:50 10:00 It was intended to divebomb Brest Guipavas. Aborted in 10/10 cloud
31-Aug-43 P.7047 Sgt W.E. Watkins Convoy 11:25 12:55 Convoy, West of Portland.
08-Sep-43 P.7040 F/Sgt W.E. Watkins Operation Starkey 17:07 18:05 Divebombing of Naval and Flak heavy guns at Hardelot
18-Sep-43 P.6997 F/Sgt W.E. Watkins Night Ranger Operation 02:21 04:05 Chatanooga Choo-Choo. Bursts on or v. close to the line W. of PLOUARET
23-Oct-43 P.6998 F/Sgt W.E. Watkins Ship Recco 08:00 09:00 The Munsterland was not found between Casquets and Barfleur. It is though that this will be found to be the last time in the history of the world in which twelve Whirlwinds were airborne together.
28-Oct-43 P.6977 F/Sgt W.E. Watkins Ramrod Operation 14:30 15:25 These eight a/c dive-bombed the Munsterland in No 5 dry dock Cherbourg
02-Nov-43 P.7012 F/Sgt W.E. Watkins Rhubarb 14:00 14:35 Rhubarb to attack railway targets N. and W. of CARENTAN. They found 4/10 cloud at 4000 feet and RTB
05-Nov-43 P.7037 F/Sgt W.E. Watkins Ramrod 100 15:15 15:45 7 Whirlibombers took off to dive bomb M/V Munsterland lying in No 5 dry dock Cherbourg. They met 10/10 cloud and RTB
07-Nov-43 P.6979 F/Sgt W.E. Watkins Air Sea Reescue Search 14:34 15:56 7 Whirlwinds went on A/S/R Search for F/O Coombe of 257 Squadron.
10-Nov-43 P.6997 F/Sgt W.E. Watkins Night Shipping Recco 20:34 22:12 Sturgeon attacked 4 or 5 ships, thought to be armed trawlers, 4 miles S.E. of Sark.
16-Nov-43 P.6997 F/Sgt W.E. Watkins Night shipping recco 02:40 04:10 Two uneventful sorties from Predannack.