Neill, W (William)
Neill, W (William)
Leading Aircraftman William Neill was the only son of James and Mary Neill, of Dunlop Street, Coleraine. He had served with the RAF for two years.
On the 12th of June 1941, William Neill was serving with 4 Operational Training Unit and was finishing a patrol onboard a Supermarine Stranraer I[1] (K7298) over the coastal approaches to Scotland. The aircraft was attempting to land on Loch Ryan but was going too fast and bounced of the water, then unfortunately crashed, and sank.
Onboard was Sergeant William Duncan Oswald[2] (who was killed), Sergeant Alfred Edmund Stephens[3] (who was killed), Sergeant Edward Thomas Naylor[4] (who was killed), Aircraftman Stanley Maver [5] (who was killed), Aircraftman William Charles Mahier[6] (who was killed), Aircraftman Antony Albert Grant[7] (who was killed), Aircraftman Albert Edward Bacon[8] (who was killed), Aircraftman Arthur Ernest Pocknell[9] (who was killed), this airman, Leading Aircraftman William Neill, age 22 (who was killed) and finally Pilot Officer A I James who was injured.
All the bodies were recovered and taken to their respective homes for burial.
Date of Death: Died 12/06/1941 (Aged 22)
Service: Leading Aircraftman, Royal Air Force, N.4 Operational Training Unit
Service Number: 639833
Burial Location: Section F. Grave 3030.
[1] Supermarine Stranraer I was a flying boat that came into service during 1937.
[2] Sergeant William Duncan Oswald (service number 742729), age 25 was buried at Glasgow (Lambhill) Cemetery, Scotland. William was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Oswald, of Glasgow, stepson of Catherine Oswald, of Glasgow.
[3] Sergeant Alfred Edmund Stephens (service number 1164425), age 19, was buried at Penzance Cemetery, Cornwall, England. Alfred was the son of Gilbert and Evelyn Rees Stephens, of Penzance.
[4] Sergeant Edward Thomas Naylor (service number 1052108), age 29, was buried at Wilmslow Cemetery, England.
[5] Aircraftman Stanley Maver (service number 1365480), age 30, was buried at Neilston Cemetery, Renfrewshire, Scotland. Stanley was the son of James and Helen Maver, of Barrhead.
[6] Aircraftman William Charles Mahier (service number 577249), age 18, Buried at Mourne Presbyterian Churchyard, Northern Ireland. Charles was the son of James and Mary Mahier, of Lisnacree.
[7] Aircraftman Antony Albert Grant (service number 650463), age 19, buried at Portslade Cemetery, Sussex, England. Antony was the son of William George and Ada Grant, of Portslade.
[8] Aircraftman Albert Edward Bacon (service number 1018703), age 31. Buried at Grantham Cemetery, Lincolnshire, England. Albert was the son of Herbert and Edith Annie Bacon, of Grantham.
[9] Aircraftman Arthur Ernest Pocknell (service number 918615), age 27, was buried at Margate Cemetery, Kent, England. Arthur was the son of Sydney Ernest and May Elizabeth Pocknell, of Margate.
