Date of birth:

January 12th, 1921 (Gloucestershire)

Date of death:

April 9th, 1991

Service number:

656738 (NCO)/145795 (Officer)

Nationality:

British

During the famous Dambuster raid, Townsend was captain of Lancaster ED-886 codenamed AJ – O for Orange.
Flight Sergeant Townsend flew his bomber and crew in the third wave of the famous raid. After the first two dams (Mohne and Eder) were breached, O for Orange was tasked to attack the Ennepe dam. With no anti-aircraft firing at them, they had time to do three trial runs before they released their bomb, but it failed to damage the dam.
Forced to fly back at tree top level by enemy action, his Lancaster was the last to return. It limped home short of one engine. He was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for his courageous actions in the raid. Bill Townsend was later promoted to Flight Lieutenant.
He had been a pupil at Monmouth and after the war studied at Lincoln College, Oxford. He became a business man and a civil servant after his studies.
FLt/Lt Townsend passed away in April 1991, there with a flypast by 617 Tornadoes at his cremation on the 15th April 1991.

Promotions:
? Sergeant
16 March, 1943: Pilot Officer on Probation (emergency)
16 September, 1943: Flying Officer on Probation (war sub)
16 March, 1945: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

No. 49 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

May 14th, 1943

Citation:
"Sgt.Townsend has operated against targets in Italy, Northern France and Germany; in addition, he has taken part in several mine-laying missions.
On one occasion, on the outward flight to Dusseldorf, one engine of his aircraft failed, but Sgt.Townsend continued his mission and later bombed the objective successfully, afterwards flying the aircraft safely back to this country"

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flight Sergeant

Unit:

No. 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

May 28th, 1943

Awarded for:

Operation Chastise

• - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36015/supplement/2157
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36070/supplement/2931
  - Page 4360 | Supplement 36192, 28 September 1943 | London Gazette | The Gazette
  - 49 Squadron Association : Home
  - Flight Magazine, 24th June, 1943
  - Dambusters Blog – The Dams Raid (Operation Chastise) and after