William Strugnell

Group Captain William Victor Strugnell MC & Bar (23 July 1892 – 1977) was a British First World War flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1] He went on to a long career in the Royal Air Force, and serving throughout the Second World War.

William Victor Strugnell
Nickname(s)Struggy
Born(1892-07-23)23 July 1892
Southampton, England
Died1977 (aged 84–85)
Dorset, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Royal Air Force
Years of servicec.1907–1945
RankGroup Captain
Unit
Commands held
Battles/warsWorld War I
 • Western Front
World War II
AwardsMilitary Cross & Bar

Early military service

Strugnell's father was a sergeant major. At the age of 15, Strugnell joined the Royal Engineers as a bugler. He then transferred to the Hampshire Regiment as a sapper, before being seconded to the Royal Flying Corps soon after its formation on 13 April 1912, serving as an Air Mechanic in No. 3 Squadron RFC from 13 May.[2] Strugnell trained as a pilot, and was granted Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate No. 253 on 24 July 1912, after a soloing a Bristol biplane at the Army School on Salisbury Plain,[3] being the third non-commissioned officer in the British military to receive a pilot's license.[4] He later served in No. 5 Squadron RFC.[4]

World War I

On 27 June 1915 Strugnell, then a sergeant, was appointed a flying officer[5] and commissioned as a second lieutenant for service in the field.[6] He was posted to No. 1 Squadron RFC, and on 5 February 1916, piloted a Morane-Saulnier L that drove down an Aviatik C.I reconnaissance aircraft for his first victory.[1][7] Soon after, on 12 February 1916, he was appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain.[8]

Strugnell served as a flight commander in No. 43 Squadron RFC, from its formation at Stirling on 15 April 1916.[9] On 3 June 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross "for Distinguished Service in the Field".[10]

Strugnell spent some time on instruction duty before returning to action flying a Sopwith Pup in No. 54 Squadron RFC as flight commander of "A" Flight.[7] On 19 March 1917, he shared in the setting on fire of a German reconnaissance aircraft. On 14 April and 1 May, he sent another reconnaissance aircraft and an Albatros D.III down out of control. On 11 May 1917, he shared in the destruction of another reconnaissance aircraft, and soon after single-handedly destroyed an Albatros D.III.[1]

On 24 July 1917 his award of a Bar to his Military Cross was gazetted. His citation read:

Lieutenant (temporary Captain) William Victor Strugnell, MC, Hampshire Regiment and Royal Flying Corps.
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While leading an offensive patrol he attacked and brought down a hostile machine. Later, in the same patrol, he brought down a second machine. In all he has accounted for five machines and a kite balloon."[11]

On 1 September 1917 Strugnell was appointed a squadron commander with the acting rank of major.[12]

List of aerial victories
Combat record[1]
No. Date/Time Aircraft/
Serial No.		 Opponent Result Location Notes
No. 1 Squadron RFC
15 February 1916
@c. 1120		Morane-Saulnier L
(5068)		Aviatik C.IOut of controlSouth-east of Armentières
No. 54 Squadron RFC
219 March 1917
@ 0745		Sopwith PupType C (reconnaissance aircraft)Destroyed in flamesRoiselShared with Lieutenant E. J. Y. Grevelink
314 April 1917
@ 0815		Sopwith Pup
(A7306)		Type COut of controlBuissy–Inchy
41 May 1917
@ 0710		Sopwith Pup
(A7306)		Albatros D.IIIOut of controlEast of St. Quentin
511 May 1917
@ 1840		Sopwith Pup
(A6168)		Type CDestroyedWalincourtShared with Major C. E. Sutcliffe, and Lieutenants Maurice Scott, Oliver Sutton, E. J. Y. Grevelink & M. B. Cole.
611 May 1917
@ 1910		Sopwith Pup
(A6168)		Albatros D.IIIDestroyedBeaurevoir

Inter-war career

On 1 August 1919 Strugnell was granted a permanent commission in the RAF with the rank of major (squadron leader).[13] He was posted to No. 1 Flying Training School (Inland Area), before being briefly attached the School of Military Administration at Chiseldon from 23 September[14] to 1 November 1921, after which he was assigned to the RAF Depot (Inland Area) as a supernumerary officer.[15]

On 14 September 1922 he was posted to the RAF Aircraft Depot in Iraq,[16] transferring to the Engine Repair Depot, Egypt, on 18 October 1924,[17] before eventually returning to the UK when posted to the RAF Depot, Uxbridge, on his transfer to the Home Establishment on 9 May 1926.[18] From 1 September 1926 Strugnell served at the headquarters of No. 21 (Training) Group at RAF West Drayton.[19]

On 1 July 1928 he was promoted to wing commander,[20] and on 1 September was appointed Officer Commanding of No. 9 Squadron, based at RAF Manston,[21] forming part of No. 51 (Night Bomber) Wing. In August 1930 the Vickers Virginia bombers of No. 51 Wing formed part of the "Blue" forces in the annual RAF Exercises.[22] On 10 January 1931 Strugnell was posted to the Home Aircraft Depot at RAF Henlow for administrative duties.[23]

He was promoted to group captain on 3 July 1934,[24] returning to the Middle East to serve as commander of No. 1 Armoured Car Company at RAF Hinaidi, Iraq, until 19 February 1935.[25] He then commanded the Reception Depot at West Drayton from 3 April 1935,[26] and was station commander of RAF Manston from 10 August 1935.[27]

World War II service

Strugnell served throughout the Second World War. He was a station commander in Algeria in 1943,[28] and received a mention in despatches on 8 June 1944.[29] He retired from the RAF on 7 June 1945,[30] only a month after the end of the war on Europe.

On 12 February 1951, he was commissioned as a flight lieutenant (Class J) in the Royal Air Force Reserve of Officers,[31] relinquishing his commission exactly eight years later on 12 February 1959.[32]

References
Notes
  1. "William Victor Strugnell". The Aerodrome. 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  2. Yoxall, John (17 March 1949). "No. 3 Fighter Squadron: The Story of our Oldest "Heavier-than-Air" Unit and its Antecedents". Flight. LV (2099): 316. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  3. "Aviators' Certificates". Flight. IV (187): 667. 27 July 1912. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  4. Franks (2005), p. 20.
  5. "No. 29273". The London Gazette. 24 August 1915. p. 8396.
  6. "No. 29250". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 August 1915. p. 7649.
  7. Shores, Franks & Guest (1990), p. 354.
  8. "No. 29511". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 March 1916. p. 2916.
  9. Robertson, F.A. de V. (19 September 1930). "No. 43 (Fighter) Squadron". Flight. XXII (1134): 1042–1047. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  10. "No. 29608". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1916. p. 5577.
  11. "No. 30204". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 July 1917. p. 7621.
  12. "No. 30262". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 August 1917. p. 9088.
  13. "No. 31486". The London Gazette. 1 August 1919. p. 9866.
  14. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XIII (662): 558. 1 September 1921. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  15. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XIII (673): 770. 17 November 1921. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  16. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XIV (720): 598. 12 October 1922. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  17. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XVI (829): 725. 13 November 1924. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  18. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XVIII (911): 339. 10 June 1926. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  19. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XVIII (923): 557. 2 September 1926. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  20. "No. 33400". The London Gazette. 3 June 1928. p. 4501.
  21. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XX (1030): 827. 20 September 1928. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  22. Robertson, F. A. De V. (15 August 1930). "R.A.F. Exercises: Blue Andover versus Red Cranwell". Flight. XXII (1129): 993. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  23. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXIII (1155): 151. 13 February 1931. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  24. "No. 34066". The London Gazette. 3 July 1934. p. 4233.
  25. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXVII (1370): 335. 28 March 1935. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  26. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXVII (1374): 448. 25 April 1935. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  27. "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXVIII (1392): 233. 29 August 1935. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  28. "Service Aviation". Flight. XLIV (1803): 79. 15 July 1943. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  29. "No. 36544". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1944. p. 2613.
  30. "No. 37280". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 September 1945. p. 4743.
  31. "No. 39182". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 March 1951. p. 1624.
  32. "No. 41699". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 May 1959. p. 2930.
Bibliography
  • Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Franks, Norman (2005). Sopwith Pup Aces of World War I. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-886-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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