| William Durrand Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 May 1885 |
| Died | 12 October 1939 (aged 54) |
| Place of birth | Wick, Caithness, Scotland |
| Place of death | Kenmore, New York, USA |
| Allegiance | George V of the British Empire |
| Service/branch | Aviation |
| Years of service | 1916 - 1919 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 20 Squadron RFC |
| Awards | Military Cross |
Lieutenant William Durrand Jr. was a Canadian flying ace from World War I. He was credited with eight aerial victories.[1]
Durrand enlisted in the Canadian military on 11 March 1916.[2] On 30 August 1916, Sergeant William Durrand of the 66th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force was commissioned a Temporary Second Lieutenant with the Royal Flying Corps.[3]
On 1 March 1917 appointed Flying Officer while still Temporary Second Lieutenant.[4] He was then assigned to 20 Squadron to pilot a Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2d. He scored his first victory on 8 June 1917, with Edward Sayers manning the observer's guns. Durrand scored three more wins while flying a FE.2, with number four coming on 21 September. He then upgraded to another two-seater fighter, the Bristol F.2, and scored again almost immediately, on the 27th, with observer William Benger as his gunner.[5] His next victory came on the first day he flew as Temporary Captain and Flight Commander,[6] 17 October 1917. Durrand scored twice more with the Bristol, ending his victory string on 8 November 1917. His final tally was two enemy planes driven down out of control, and six destroyed (including one shared with Reginald Makepeace).[7]
He was transferred to the Royal Air Force unemployed list on 18 May 1919.[8][9]
Honors and awards[]
Awarded the 'Military Cross on 17 December 1917.[10][11]
Sources of information[]
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/durrand.php Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/durrand.php Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
- ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 9 September 1916) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29741/supplements/8878 Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
- ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 21 March 1917) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29994/supplements/2828 Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/durrand.php Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
- ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 1 November 1916) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30361/supplements/11277 Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/durrand.php Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
- ↑ (The London Gazette, 15 July 1919) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31458/pages/9003 Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
- ↑ (The London Gazette, 15 July 1919) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31458/pages/9004 Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
- ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 17 December 1916) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30431/supplements/13181 Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
- ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 17 December 1916) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30431/supplements/13182 Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
The original article can be found at William Durrand, Jr. and the edit history here.