PL - William Skinner KIA

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Skinner, William (Sergeant)

Killed in Action 1942-November-10

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Birth Date: 1916 (age 26)

Son of Edward and Ann Skinner

husband of Elizabeth Selina Skinner, of Stepney, London, England.

Service
RAF

Unit
53 Sqn- Squadron

Rank

Sergeant

Marshal
Air Chief Marshal	A/C/M
Air Marshal	A/M
Air Vice Marshal	A/V/M
Air Commodore	A/C
Group Captain	G/C
Wing Commander	W/C
Squadron Leader	S/L
Flight Lieutenant	F/L
Flying Officer	F/O
Pilot Officer	P/O
Warrant Officer 1st Class	WO1
Warrant Officer 2nd Class	WO2
Flight Sergeant	FS
Sergeant	SGT
Corporal	CPL
Senior Aircraftman	SAC
Leading Aircraftman	LAC
Aircraftman 1st Class	AC1
Aircraftman 2nd Class	AC2

Position

Service Numbers
1310678

Ken, No.53 Squadron was an RAF Squadron. The following from my notes, extracted from squadron ORB, etc. Date: November 10th, 1942. Approx 1030 GMT (06.30 local). Location: approx 107nm East of Edinburgh Field, Trinidad. Aircraft: Lockheed Hudson Mk.III, V9253, PZ-L. Fatalities Pilot: F/Sgt. Ronald Rasleigh Sillcock, AUS. 400840. Observer: Sgt. Patrick George Nelson, NZ. 411726. WOP/AG: Sgt. Robert Millar, RAFVR. 1057521. WOP/AG: Sgt. William Skinner, RAFVR. 1310678. Additional: Sea. 1c Harold Lewis Drew, USN. 6461768. It subsequently emerged that V9253/L and its crew had caught U-505 on the surface at 1010N 5904W and made a surprise attack on the vessel with great accuracy before it had time to crash dive. The U-boat commander Klt. Peter Zschech would appear to be have been rather incautious in not keeping a better watch. Possibly the Sillcock crew had located the target without the use of radar, because the U-boat's Metox system does not appear to have warned its crew of the Hudson's approach. It seems in keeping with determination Sgt. Sillcock showed in his previous encounters with U-boats that he came in very low and very fast. Three depth charges must have been near misses but because the vessel was still on the surface their detonation at a depth of 25 feet did not render a fatal blow. The fourth depth charge actually struck the rear gun platform and exploded on impact, carrying away the gun, severely injuring two members of the crew. The Hudson would appear to have been hit by shrapnel and debris from the explosion, as it crashed into the sea - a fireball - about one hundred yards beyond the badly damaged vessel. The Hudson's crew had no chance. The standard practice was not to send a signal to base until completing their first attack because of the risk of alerting the U-boat's radio watch. Therefore no one was aware of the tragedy, nor of U-505 lying damaged and stranded on the surface. This silence gave Zschech eight hours to get his act together and execute temporary repairs and limp away from the area. Hope this helps, Tony Broadhurst .

Britain Source RAF Commands Database

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Finadagrave.com

Sergeant William Skinner has no known grave.

Google Map

Ottawa War Memorial
Panel 1 Column 4

Hudson V9253

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Sergeant Millar, Robert (RAFVR)

Missing in Action
1942-November-10
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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Sergeant Nelson, Patrick George (RNZAF)

Missing in Action
1942-November-10
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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Flight Sergeant Sillcock, Ronald Rashleigh (RAAF)

Missing in Action
1942-November-10
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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Sergeant Skinner, William (RAF)

Killed in Action
1942-November-10
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Lockheed Hudson A-28 A-29 AT-18

Lockheed Hudson
Source National Air Force Museum of Canada.

The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force (RAF) shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter. The Hudson served throughout the war, mainly with Coastal Command, but also in transport and training roles, as well as delivering agents into occupied France. They were also used extensively with the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) anti-submarine squadrons. National Air Force Museum of Canada.

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Hudson

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrek Publications Hudon - Kestrel Publications

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:

RCAF Owned (247) RCAF 400 Squadrons (39) Canadian Crewed (245)

last update: 2021-12-21 01:36:53

Hudson V9253

No.53 Squadron. Date: November 10th, 1942. Approx 1030 GMT (06.30 local). Location: approx 107nm East of Edinburgh Field, Trinidad. Aircraft: Lockheed Hudson Mk.III, V9253, PZ-L. Fatalities Pilot: F/Sgt. Ronald Rasleigh Sillcock, AUS. 400840. Observer: Sgt. Patrick George Nelson, NZ. 411726. WOP/AG: Sgt. Robert Millar, RAFVR. 1057521. WOP/AG: Sgt. William Skinner, RAFVR. 1310678

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