Winward, William Dudley

Date of death:: 1975
Service number:: 43078
Nationality:: British

Biography

William Dudley Winwrad, Flight Lieutenant / Squadron Leader 68 Squadron RAF. Crashed in the Amstel Lake on 18 February 1943 and taken prisoner of war.

Left RAF Coltishall at 21:05 on 18 February 1943 for a mission on Vlieland. Over Texel, Beaufighter V8325 Above Texel, the aircraft was hit by German anti-aircraft fire at around 11.03pm and Squadron Leader Winward made an emergency landing on the Amstel Lake at high speed.

He became unconscious in the crash and regained consciousness when the aircraft was on the bottom. He managed to reach the surface and hoist himself into the dinghy. The crash left him with a broken arm and a paralysed hand. He was captured by the Germans and survived the war in captivity.

His fellow Flying Officer Wood did not manage to get out of the plane and did not survive the crash. His body washed up in De Haukes harbour a few days later. After first being buried with military honours in Huisduinen, he was reburied at Bergen op Zoom War Cemetary after the war.

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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Flight Lieutenant
Unit:: No. 68 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: November 16th, 1942

"Flight Lieutenant Winward has participated in a large number of operational sorties. He has at all times set the highest example of devotion to duty and has shown great keenness to engage the enemy. This officer has been responsible for the destruction of 3 enemy aircraft, 2 of which he shot down at night."