Date of birth:

January 23rd, 1913 (Edinburgh/Scotland, Great Britain)

Date of death:

November 27th, 1997 (Darlington/County Durham, Great Britain)

Nationality:

British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Service number 90282.

William Blackadders was the youngest son of three boys, played rugby and attended Cambridge University
William Blackadder joined 607 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force, in early 1937 and was mobilised with the unit in September 1939, accompanying it to France in November. During May 1940, he was credited with three victories. He was to claim several more during the later stages of the Battle of Britain, but on 9 November was posted as a Sector Controller in the Operations Room at Turnhouse, Edinburgh. After moving to other airfields, he was given command of No. 245 Squadron in June 1941, remaining with this unit until July 1942. He then became a controller again, this time with 10 Group, until January 1943, when he attended the Army Staff College at Camberley. In May 1943 he became Wing Commander, Tactics at HQ, Fighter Command, moving tot HQ, Allied Expeditionary Force, in September 1943. Subsequently he commanded the Air Fighting Development Uni at Witterin. He left the service in November 1945 rejoining 607 Squadron the following year. He remained until the end of 1948, when he became CO of the Northumberland Wing of the ATC until February 1951.
He then started working in a shipping company called Moor Line, becoming director.

Promotions:
1st December 1937: Flying Officer;
3rd September 1940: Flight Lieutenant;
1st December 1941: Squadron Leader (temp);
13th October 1942: Squadron Leader (war subs.);
May 1943: Wing Commander.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Flight Lieutenant

Unit:

No. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

June 4th, 1940

Citation
"This officer shot down three enemy aircraft and led his patrols with judgment and excellent offensive spirit. In particular he carried out singly several extremely important reconnaissances of bridges and roads at a time when other means of obtaining news were not effective. His reports were very valuable to the Army."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flight Lieutenant

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Wing Commander

Unit:

No. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1945

• Photo 1: The Battle of Britain London Monument
• Photo: The Battle of Britain London Monument
  
• - SHORES, CH. & WILLIAMS, C., Aces High, Grub Street, London, 1994.
  - The London Gazette Issue 34864 published on the 4 June 1940
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35029 published on the 31 December 1940
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36866 published on the 29 December 1944
  - Scrum - Rugby Union