Flying Officer W. B. Gingell DFC DFM
223 Sqn. Royal Air Force
56168
Killed in action, 1 August 1946, England. Aged 27.
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William was born at Weybridge in 1919. He was the son of William Henry and Christine Frances Gingell (nee Randall) of Wadhurst, Surrey, he had a sister Mary and a brother, George. He attended Woking County School 1930-35 and enlisted with the RAFVR in 1939 while living in Addlestone.
On 19 August 1940 William, then a Sergeant was Observer aboard Blenheim Mk. IV (N3574) of 101 Sqdn. as it left RAF West Raynham in Norfolk for a night raid on Antwerp Aerodrome. The bomber took to the air at 2205 but the port engine failed as they crossed the Dutch coast and the crew elected to bomb Haamsted Aerodrome, which they did successfully from 5,000 feet.
Unable to maintain height on the way home, P/O Bicknell ditched his aircraft alongside a British trawler in rough seas just short of the English coast.
The Blenheim’s Air Gunner (21 year old Sgt. John George from Worcesterhire) was knocked unconcious and trapped in the plane. P/O Bicknell and Sgt Gingell forced their way out and made several unsuccessful attempts to rescue their comrade before the plane finally sank.
Some 30 minutes later Bicknell (suffering from head injuries) and Gingell (by now unconscious) were picked up by the trawler. Both men were awarded Distinguished Flying Medals for their actions that night.
William was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, gazetted on 20 July 1943. At the time he was serving with 223 Sqn. based in Malta. He received both his DFM and DFC from The King at Buckinham Palace whilst home on leave. He was promoted to Flying Officer on 1 September 1945.
William was killed in a flying accident (possibly in the Shropshire area) on 1 August 1946.
William Gingell is buried in Chester (Blacon) Cemetery, Cheshire (section A, grave 837). He is also remembered on the Woking County Grammar School roll of honour located in Christ Church, Woking.
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Last updated 22 December 2009
Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Woking News and Mail
Woking County School magazine
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