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William James [Marmaduke] Alington

Name : William James [Marmaduke] Alington Born : 26th March 1906 Died : 4th January 1969 Service Number : 70006 Awards : Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 Bar Air Force Cross

Officer, Merchant Navy. Gained aviator's licence (No. 10571), taken on 24.06.1932 on a D.H. 60X Cirrus II 30/80 h.p. at Hampshire Aeroplane Club. Joined the staff of Aberdeen Airways as a pilot, 1935. 04.04.1936 commissioned, Reserve of Air Force Officers (General Duties Branch) William Alington was born on 26th March 1926 in Hythe, Kent and was the son of Lt.Col. A C M Alington. His brothers Paym Lt.Cdr Rupert Hildebrand Alington and W/Co Patrick Hamilton Alington RAF also served in WW2 with distinction. He was flying as far back as 1932 as a civilian pilot and gained his aviator's licence (No.10571) in June 1932 at the Hampshire Aeroplane Club. He later joined the staff of Aberdeen Airways and Alan Clark's Peak District aircraft crash research reveals that he was the pilot of Moth G-EBWA which crashed on Burbage Edge near Buxton on 11th October 1934. On 28th April 1936 he was granted a commission as P/O on probation in the Reserve. In the years before the War he rose in rank and on 13th November 1940 in the RAF, Reserve of Air Force Officers, he was made F/Lt. He was awarded the AFC, Gazetted on 30th September 1941, this was gained for service with 2 CFS. Hugh Halliday's research discovered a recommendation for his award which states.."This officer has completed 2,700 hours of instructional flying of which 595 hours have been flown since December 1939. His great enthusiasm for the work is reflected in the high standard attained by his pupils." Later, on 16th December 1941, he rose to S/Ldr. On 2nd February 1943 he was awarded the DFC for service and commanding 25 Squadron, the citation reads.."This officer has completed a large number of sorties and has destroyed two enemy aircraft at night. He is an extremely able flight commander, whose efforts to achieve success in night fighting have been most praiseworthy." He was also awarded the Bar to the DFC, Gazetted on 23rd July 1943 for service with 264 Squadron. This citation reads.."This officer has displayed exceptional keenness and determination to inflict loss on the enemy. On one sortie, he damaged seven locomotives. More recently, in June 1943, he led a formation of light bombers on an operation which resulted in the destruction of four enemy aircraft on the ground, while much damage was caused to a hangar. In addition, a minesweeper was attacked and damaged. By his fearless and skilful leadership, Wing Commander Alington played a large part in the success of the sortie." Post-War he stayed with the RAF Reserve of Officers and relinquished his commission of S/Ldr but retaining his rank of W/C with effect from 10th February 1954. On 18th May 1941 He was the pilot of Master T8550 which was flying at night and had just taken off from Church Fenton when the aircraft's engine cut out, the aircraft struck a tree at 23.30hrs near Ulleskelf and crashed seriously injuring both the airmen on board. Pilot - F/Lt William James "Marmaduke" Alington . Injured. Passenger - Sgt D W Poole (926724). Injured. (05.1941) 54 Operational Training Unit RAF (09.1941) No. 2 Central Flying School RAF (AFC) (1943) 25 Squadron RAF (DFC) 24.06.1943 -24.04.1944 264 Squadron RAF (Bar to DFC) P/O 04.04.1936 P/O 04.10.1936 F/O 04.10.1937 F/Lt. 03.09.1940 (T) Sq.Ldr. 01.12.1941 (WS) Sq.Ldr. 24.06.1943 (Emgcy List) (reld 10.02.1954; retaining rank of W/Cdr.) (A) W/Cdr. (1943)

COMBAT REPORTS

* This officer has completed a large number of sorties and has destroyed 2 enemy aircraft at night. He is an extremely able flight commander, whose efforts to achieve success in night fighting have been most praiseworthy. ** This officer has displayed exceptional keenness and determination to inflict loss on the enemy. On 1 sortie, he damaged 7 locomotives. More recently, in June, 1943, he led a formation of light bombers on an operation which resulted in the destruction of 4 enemy aircraft on the ground, while much damage was caused to a hangar. In addition, a minesweeper was attacked and damaged. By his fearless and skillful leadership, Wing Commander Alington played a large part in the success of the sortie. *** This officer has completed 2,700 hours of instructional flying of which 595 hours have been flown since December 1939. His great enthusiasm for the work is reflected in the high standard attained by his pupils.

Known Service Details :
Squadron	Rank	Start of Service	End of Service	Known Dates	Aircraft	Airframes	Notes
No.25 Sqn RAF	Wing Commander	1943	unknown		Beaufighter
No.264 Sqn RAF	sqd leader	24th June 1943	24th April 1944		Mosquito

Aircraft for : William James [Marmaduke] Alington
A list of all aircraft associated with William James [Marmaduke] Alington. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Aircraft	Info
Beaufighter Click the name above to see prints featuring Beaufighter aircraft. Manufacturer : Bristol Production Began : 1940 Number Built : 5564	Beaufighter BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER The Bristol Beaufighter was a Torpedo Bomber and had a crew of two. with a maximum speed of 330mph and a ceiling of 29,000 feet. maximum normal range of 1500 miles but could be extended to 1750 miles. The Bristol Beaufighter carried four 20mm cannon in the belly of the aircraft and upto six .303in browning machine guns in the wings. it could also carry eight 3 -inch rockets, 1605 lb torpedo or a bomb load of 1,000 lb. The Bristol Beaufighter first flew in July 1939 and with some modifications entered service with the Royal Air Force in July 1940. In the winter of 1940 - 1941 the Beaufighter was used as a night fighter. and in March 1941 the aircraft was used at Coastal Command as a long range strike aircraft. and in 1941, the Beaufighter arrived in North Africa and used as a forward ground attack aircraft. The Bristol Beaufighter was used also in India, Burma and Australia. A total of 5,564 Beaufighters were built until production in Britain finished in 1945, but a further 364 were built in Australia for the Australian Air Force
Mosquito Click the name above to see prints featuring Mosquito aircraft. Manufacturer : De Havilland Production Began : 1940 Retired : 1955 Number Built : 7781	Mosquito Used as a night fighter, fighter bomber, bomber and Photo-reconnaissance, with a crew of two, Maximum speed was 425 mph, at 30,300 feet, 380mph at 17,000ft. and a ceiling of 36,000feet, maximum range 3,500 miles. the Mosquito was armed with four 20mm Hospano cannon in belly and four .303 inch browning machine guns in nose. Coastal strike aircraft had eight 3-inch Rockets under the wings, and one 57mm shell gun in belly. The Mossie at it was known made its first flight on 25th November 1940, and the mosquito made its first operational flight for the Royal Air Force as a reconnaissance unit based at Benson. In early 1942, a modified version (mark II) operated as a night fighter with 157 and 23 squadron's. In April 1943 the first De Haviland Mosquito saw service in the Far east and in 1944 The Mosquito was used at Coastal Command in its strike wings. Bomber Commands offensive against Germany saw many Mosquitos, used as photo Reconnaissance aircraft, Fighter Escorts, and Path Finders. The Mosquito stayed in service with the Royal Air Force until 1955. and a total of 7781 mosquito's were built.

Squadrons for : William James [Marmaduke] Alington
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by William James [Marmaduke] Alington. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
Squadron	Info
No.25 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 25th September 1915 Feriens Tego - Striking I defend Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.25 Sqn RAF	No.25 Sqn RAF No. 25 Squadron was formed at Montrose in Scotland on 25 September 1915 from the personnel of No. 6 Reserve Squadron. Moving to France in February 1916, the Squadron took up fighter/reconnaissance patrols over the Western Front with two-seat FE2Bs. During 1917, the Squadron transferred to long-range reconnaissance and high-altitude bombing with newly received DH4s. After moving to Germany as part of the occupation forces, No. 25 Squadron returned to the UK and disbanded in January 1920. The squadron reformed the next day at RAF Hawkinge, flying Snipes, and went to Turkey in 1922/23 during the Chanak Crisis. After returning to the UK the unit stayed for a number of years at Hawkinge. The Snipes gave way to Grebes and later Siskins, while in December 1936 the squadron became the first unit to receive the Hawker Fury Mk II, having already flown the Fury Mk I since 1932. The Fury was replaced by the Hawker Demon when the squadron was given a night-fighter role. For night-flying training purposes the squadron also received Gloster Gladiators. No. 25(F) Squadron moved to RAF Northolt on 12 September 1938. During World War II it flew Blenheims on night patrols, which were replaced by Beaufighters and later Mosquitos. By the closing stages of the war, the squadron was almost entirely committed to bomber escort missions. After the war, the night-fighter Mosquitos remained on strength until 1951 when they were finally replaced by Vampires. A mix of two Meteor night-fighter variants replaced the Vampires in 1954 and remained with the Squadron until it was disbanded in June 1958. Barely a week later, on 1 July 1958, No. 153 Squadron at Waterbeach was renumbered No. 25 and the same mix of Meteors (NF12s and NF14s) was flown until all-weather Javelin fighters arrived in early 1959. In November 1962, the Squadron again disbanded, this time until October 1963, when the Squadron was reformed at North Coates as the first operational Bloodhound surface-to-air guided missile unit. In 1970, the Squadron moved to Bruggen with detached Flights based at Laarbruch and Wildenrath, remaining in Germany until 1983 when the unit returned to the UK with bases at Wyton, Barkston Heath and Wattisham. The Bloodhounds were withdrawn from service on 1 August 1989 and the Squadron reformed the same day at Leeming as a Tornado F3 squadron. During its time at Leeming, the squadron has had operational tours in the Gulf, providing air and groundcrews for the detachment of Tornado F3 based in Saudi Arabia on a rotational basis with other air defence squadrons. This ceased following the Operation Telic in 2003.
No.264 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 27th September 1918 Fate : Disbanded 30th November 1962 Madras Presidency We defy Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.264 Sqn RAF	No.264 Sqn RAF 264 Squadron was formed from two former Royal Naval Air Service flights, No.439 and No.440, on 27th September 1918 at Souda bay in Crete with the role of anti-submarine patrols, and equipped with the Short 184 floatplanes. The Squadron was disbanded on 1 March 1919. On 8th December 1939 at Martlesham Heath, 264 Squadron was reformed and equipped with the new Boulton Paul Defiant fighter. In March 1940 the squadron started operations doing convoy patrols. After initial successes the Luftwaffe soon realised that the Defiant was vulnerable to frontal attack, and 264 Squadron along with the other Boulton Paul Defiant squadrons started to suffer heavy losses of aircraft and crew. At the end of May 1940, 264 Squadron was withdrawn from operations as a day-fighter squadron and began to train in the night-fighter role. During the Battle of Britain 264 Squadron was used again for day fighting but again suffered losses and returned to the night-fighter role. In May 1942 the squadron was re-equipped with Mosquito II and moved to RAF Colerne, and later receieved the new Mark VI. The squadron operated as night-fighters in the west of England and also in the role of day patrols in the Bay of Biscay and western approaches. 264 Squadron later became part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force providing night patrols over Europe and near the end of the war it was based at Twente in Holland patrolling over Berlin. 264 squadron was disbanded at Twente on 25th August 1945.

Last edited : 22:46, February 3, 2017
Last editor : HMS
First created : 22:21, February 3, 2017
Created by : HMS

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