William Thomas Chandler, Sergeant, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

William Chandler was born in 1911 in Pembridge. He was the son of Arthur James Chandler who had been born in Whitney, Herefordshire and Alice Grace Chandler who, like her son, had been born in Pembridge.

In the census of that year, his father’s occupation was “coal merchant and farmer”, “working on own account at home”.  At the time that this census was taken, William Chandler was two weeks old. He had two brothers aged 18 months and three years old. The address of this family is “Market Square, Pembridge”. The residence had four rooms (including kitchen)

In the 1901 census, William Chandler’s father had been residing at The New Inn, Pembridge with his father,  mother and siblings. William Chandler’s grandfather, John Chandler, was at the time an “inn keeper and farmer” who had been born in Eardisley while his grandmother, Elizabeth had been born in Radnorshire.

In 1926, William Chandler’s father, Arthur, died.

By 1939, William Chandler was residing with his mother and two brothers and one sister at Oak View, Kington Road, Kington (close to The Royal Oak pub). His mother was employed as a domestic, his much younger sister as a domestic help and his brother as a corn merchant manager. William Chandler’s occupation was that of painter and decorator.

When war broke out, William Chandler enlisted in The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

“The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve was established in 1936 to support the preparedness of the U. K. Royal Air Force in the event of another war. The Air Ministry intended it to form a supplement to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, the active reserve for the RAF, by providing an additional non-active reserve.

However, during the Second World War, the high demand for aircrew absorbed all available Royal Air Force Auxiliary Reserve personnel and led the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve to quickly become the main pathway of aircrew entry into the RAF. It was initially composed of civilians recruited from neighbourhood reserve flying schools, run by civilian contractors with largely RAF-trained flying instructors as well as other instructors in related air war functions, such as observers and wireless operators”. By the end of 1941 more than half of Bomber Command aircrew were members of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.” (Wikipedia)

“When war was declared “the risk of Luftwaffe attack on training bases in Great Britain coupled with the urgent need for larger numbers of well-trained aircrew than the pre-war systems could produce brought about the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan” (Wikipedia).

“This was often referred to as “The Plan”. “It was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War.” (Wikipedia)

“The bomber war was fought largely by young, civilian volunteers from Britain and the Commonwealth, commanded by men who joined up before the Second World War. The vast majority of aircrew were in their late teens or early twenties. Only 25% were officers.” (IWM).

“On completion of basic military training aircrew candidates would wear a white flash on the front of their service issue "side caps" denoting their "aircrew under training" status. No matter where they originated in Britain or the Commonwealth, they could be shipped to the next available training course in any of those nations where pilots were trained to fly at "Elementary Flying Training Schools" and the other aircrew trades attended appropriate trade schools such as "Air Navigation Schools" or "Bombing and Gunnery Schools". Following completion of training at a graduation ceremony aircrew were presented with their aircrew brevet (the correct term is flying badge) and either handed their sergeant's stripes or commissioned as officers.” (Wikipedia)

Above photo: Flight Sergeant Rank chevrons (stripes) as awarded to William Chandler (Wikipedia)

When William Chandler had completed his training course and gained his stripes, he was posted to No. 27 Operational Training Unit which was formed in 1941 and based outside Lichfield, Staffordshire.

Above photo: RAF Lichfield (1)

“Aircrew memoirs repeatedly mention arriving at an OTU in large groups of mixed aircrew trades all assigned to the next course and being left to mingle in a large hall to form crews. The process of forming a crew generally followed the pattern of one or two men who knew each other from training schools deciding to fly together then looking for other members from different trades to team up with. Most crews were formed in this manner.

“In the first half of the war completion of training at an OTU would mean each crew transferring to an operational squadron and beginning their operational tour. Assignment to a squadron was simply a process of making good recent losses and a squadron which had lost three or four crews in the previous week would expect the "feeder" OTUs to have replacement crews (known as freshmen or sprog crews) ready in the system to cover the losses. This effectively meant that any crew could go to any squadron within Bomber Command.”  (Wikipedia)

Loss rates in training were high due to inexperience, crowded airspace, often poor weather, and even enemy interdiction aircraft operating over the United Kingdom.” (Wikipedia)

Instructors were usually experienced aircrew being "rested" after completing an operational tour and were tasked to lead the airmen for 5 or 6 weeks on night flying, navigation, bombing, cross country, all-weather and air gunnery/fighter affiliation practice operations in the types of aircraft they were likely to fly operationally. The process was hazardous and crashes due to inexperience cost over 8,000 casualties, including instructors who had joined a crew needing particular support or guidance.” (Wikipedia)

William Chandler trained as an “air bomber”.

“The role of bomb-aimer was introduced in 1942 as the new heavy bombers required seven-man crews. The bomb-aimer took control of the aircraft when it was on its bombing run. He would lie flat in the nose of the aircraft, directing the pilot until the bombs were released and the bombing photograph was taken. The photograph was the proof that the operation had been completed, which meant the crew could count it towards their total number of operations carried out. The bomb-aimer could act as a reserve pilot in an emergency as he would have received some flying training.” (IWM)

Above photo: The bomb aimer in an Avro Lancaster, checking over the instruments in his position before take off from Scampton, Lincolnshire (IWM)

Above photo: Wellington bomber (Wikipedia)

On 11th December 1942, William Chandler took his last flight.

Below are the details of the plane from take off as detailed by International Bomber Command Centre Losses Database.

“AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

Aircraft, Vickers Wellington III

Serial Number, X3961

ENLISTMENT INFORMATION

Service Number, 1186607

Service, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Group, 93

Squadron, 27 OTU

Trade, Air Bomber

Country of Origin , United Kingdom

LAST OPERATION INFORMATION

Start Date, 11-12-1942

End Date, 11-12-1942

Takeoff Station, Lichfield

Day/Night Raid, Day

Operation, Training- night exercise

Reason for Loss, Aircraft took off at 1942hrs, on night exercise. 14 mins after take off, aircraft crashed at Stychbrook Farm, near to the airfield. Crash attributed to the failure to remove the pitot tube cover thereby rendering the airspeed indicator inoperative.” (2)

More specifically -

“The Primary cause of the accident was attributed to the aircraft taking off with the cover still fitted to the pressure head. The accident occurred at night near the drome with MK1 Drem lighting in force supplemented by double cross Goose Necks, Gum Lamps and Floodllghts. Soon after take off the Captain called up on TR9 to say that the Air Speed Indicator was U/S. As it was a duel-controlled aircraft with the Pupil Pilot in the pilot’s seat, the 293 Screened Captain took control, and made a right-hand circuit, and overshot badly. He took overshot procedure, but stalled at 400 feet and crashed. The failure of the Air Speed Indicator was attributed to the fact that the aircraft took off with the pressure head cover on. The cover was found tied to the pressure head after the crash. Neither the Captain nor the Pupil Pilot could have carried out their “before flight” drill properly because the removal of the cover on the Pitot Head is the first sequence of the drill. It was not understood why a screened pilot should have done a right-hand circuit as he was an experienced instructor who had passed the CFS. Orders have now been given to all Pilots that they are not to take off until the Pressure Head cover has been handed to them. The Group Captain Lichfield Station: “I concur. I have given orders that the Pressure Head cover is to be handed to the Pilot prior to the aircraft taxying out for take-off.” The Air Cdre AOC No 93 Group stated: “I concur that the Rigger is primarily to blame for failing to ensure that the Pitot Head cover was off and to make his report to the Pilot. The Pilot was also to blame for failing to check either. Disciplinary action is to be taken against the Rigger.” (3)

William Chandler was 31 years old at the time of his death.

He is buried at St Mary Church, Pembridge.

Above photo: William Chandler’s headstone (Lee Oxenham, GWGC)

Rory MacColl

Sources

1/ https://mylichfield.co.uk/infull.php?article=408&in=11#R.A.F._buildings_off_Anglesey_Road

2/ https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/103967/

3/ https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/103967/