Bent, William Thomas

Killed in Action 1942-11-09

Birth Date: 1916-August-22

Born:

Home: St Louis, Missouri, USA

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Decorations: DFM

Distinguished Flying Medal

Service

RCAF

Unit

142 Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Determination

Base

RAF Kirmington

Rank

Pilot Officer

Position

Pilot Officer

Service Numbers

J/15845

Home
Google MapSt Louis, Missouri, USA
First Burial
Google MapOhlsdorf, Cemetery, Hamburg, Germany
American in the RCAF; born 1916 in Glen White, West Virginia; home there or Sikeston, Mississippi (miner); enlisted Windsor, Ontario, 30 November 1940. Trained at No.1 ITS, No.12 EFTS, and No.1 SFTS. To No.142 Squadron, 13 May 1942. Killed in action 10 November 1942 (raid on Hamburg). 142 Squadron (Determination). P/Os Bent, A.A. Smith (RAF), Sergeants J. Bradley (RAF), A. Sinclair (RAF), and FS I. Kennedy (RNZAF) were all killed when their Wellington (BJ 711) aircraft went missing during an op. over enemy territory. Addendum: - his age at time of death was 26 and was a Flight Sergeant when he earned his DFM, please add the following. - Distinguished Flying Medal - No.142 Squadron - Award effective 23 September 1942 as per London Gazette dated 6 October 1942 and AFRO 1653/42 dated 16 October 1942. The citation reads - "One night in September 1942, Flight Sergeant Bent, as captain of an aircraft, was detailed to attack a target in the Ruhr. Just before reaching the target engine trouble developed and Flight Sergeant Bent was unable to fly the aircraft above 8,000 feet. Nevertheless, displaying great courage and fortitude, he continued his mission and, after bombing his target, a successful photograph of the area was taken. On the return journey the engine trouble persisted and Flight Sergeant Bent was considerably harassed by searchlights and anti-aircraft fire. By skillful airmanship, however, he succeeded in returning to his base safely. Flight Sergeant Bent has at all times shown determination in pressing home his attacks." Detail provided by H. Halliday, Orleans, Ontario.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

www.findagrave.com

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Findagrave.com

Wellington BJ711

Pilot Officer Bent, William Thomas (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Action
1942-November-09
CWG Cemetery, Hamburg, Germany

Vickers Wellington

Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page
Vickers Wellington B. Mk. III (Serial No. X3763), coded KW-E, No. 425 'Alouette' (B) Squadron, RCAF, late summer of 1942

The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engined, long-range medium bomber. It was designed during the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey. Led by Vickers-Armstrongs' chief designer Rex Pierson, a key feature of the aircraft is its geodetic airframe fuselage structure, which was principally designed by Barnes Wallis. Development had been started in response to Air Ministry Specification B.9/32, issued in the middle of 1932, for a bomber for the Royal Air Force. This specification called for a twin-engined day bomber capable of delivering higher performance than any previous design.

The Wellington was used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, performing as one of the principal bombers used by Bomber Command. During 1943, it started to be superseded as a bomber by the larger four-engined "heavies" such as the Avro Lancaster. The Wellington continued to serve throughout the war in other duties, particularly as an anti-submarine aircraft.

It holds the distinction of having been the only British bomber that was produced for the duration of the war, and of having been produced in a greater quantity than any other British-built bomber. The Wellington remained as first-line equipment when the war ended, although it had been increasingly relegated to secondary roles. The Wellington was one of two bombers named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, the other being the Vickers Wellesley.

In August 1936, an initial order for 180 Wellington Mk I aircraft, powered by a pair of 1,050 hp (780 kW) Bristol Pegasus radial engines, was received by Vickers; it had been placed so rapidly that the order occurred prior to the first meeting intended to decide the details of the production aircraft. In October 1937, another order for a further 100 Wellington Mk Is, produced by the Gloster Aircraft Company, was issued; it was followed by an order for 100 Wellington Mk II aircraft with Rolls-Royce Merlin X V12 engines. Yet another order was placed for 64 Wellingtons produced by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. With this flurry of order and production having been assured by the end of 1937, Vickers set about simplifying the manufacturing process of the aircraft and announced a target of building one Wellington per day.

A total of 180 Wellington Mk I aircraft were built; 150 for the RAF and 30 for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) (which were transferred to the RAF on the outbreak of war and used by 75 Squadron). In October 1938, the Mk I entered service with 9 Squadron. The Wellington was initially outnumbered by the Handley Page Hampden (also ordered by the Ministry to B.9/32) and the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley (to B.34/3 for a 'night' bomber) but outlasted both rival aircraft in service. The Wellington went on to be built in 16 separate variants, in addition to two training conversions after the war. The number of Wellingtons built totalled 11,462 of all versions, a greater quantity produced than any other British bomber. On 13 October 1945, the last Wellington to be produced rolled out.Wikipedia

Wikipedia Wikipedia Vickers Wellington

unvetted Source RCAF - Vickers Wellington

YouTube YouTube Vickers Wellington documentary

unvetted Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page