Perry, William Henry

Date of birth:: (Farnham/Surrey, United Kingdom)
Date of death:: September 20th, 1944
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Cemetery Uden
Plot: 6. Row: F. Grave: 6.
Service number:: 1380552 (NCO)/177599 (Officer)
Nationality:: British
Rang/eenheid:: 512 Sqdn.

Biography

Bill Perry enlisted in the RAF in October 1940 and after recieving his wings he was posted to No. 31 transport Squadron which was stationed in India on trooping duties to Iraq and the Middle East. The squadron moved to Akyab in February 1942 in support of the British forces in Burma.
After his first tour he returned to England in March 1944 to prepare for the invasion of occupied Europe and was posted to No. 512 Squadron. On D Day he and his fellow pilots of 512 Squadron dropped the 9th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment southeast of Merville.
Perry also was active on the second lift on September 1944 for operation Market Garden.
On the third day the flak had increased around the drop zones for the ground forces. The Dakota, piloted by Perry, was hit by heavy and medium flak and caught fire. Perry was killed on crashlanding close to the village of Schaijk.

Promotions:
? Flight Sergeant
13 December, 1943: Pilot Officer on Probation (Emergency)
5 June 1944: Flying Officer (war sub)

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Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Flight Sergeant
Unit:: No. 31 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: March 24th, 1944

Citation:
"Flight Sergeant Perry has completed a large number of sorties involving the dropping of supplies to troops both by day and night Throughout these operations he has displayed great keenness and determination. On one occasion his aircraft was hit in several places by anti-aircraft fire. Both air speed indicators were rendered useless but Flight Sergeant Perry completed the sortie successfully."

The recommendation for this award was drawn when he had flown over 700 operational hours.