Squadron Leader William Frederick Quilliam Raf Ww2 - Which Squadron?

[balloney]

My distant ancestor Squadron Leader William Frederick Quilliam was born 1901
and died on 24th Feb. 1941.....buried 26th Feb at St. Michael Churchyard, Aylesbury, Bucks.
Plot number 3 - Row B - grave 104.
His last residence was Wendover.

I wish to know where he was based, which Squadron he was flying with and what was the cause of his death.
Being a Squadron Leader shows he was very capable and was Mentioned in Despatches.

Any help with be super.

[Fitzer]

In the London Gazette he is shown as being in the Accountant Branch (no idea what that is/was) https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34650/page/5324/data.pdf

[Ninnynanny]

Try the website of the Commonwealth war graves Commission. You have all the info to research the name.

[vulcan42]

The rank of Squadron leader doesn't necessarily means the officer led a squadron of aircraft, in fact a Squadron leader might not even be a pilot. The accountant branch of the RAF is exactly that, the officer has been trained, either before joining the forces, or during his service as an accountant.

[Fitzer]

So more a sort of pay grade Vulcan?

[JJ109]

Is an accountant likely to be mentioned in despatches though, Vulcan?

[vulcan42]

jj109, Is an accountant likely to be mentioned in despatches though, Vulcan?
Yes I noticed that but I was just explaining the term accountant branch. There is the chance that there may be more than one Squadron Leader with the same name or this might be the same officer who ceased flying and transferred to the accountant branch. If you check the entries in the London gazette, under the heading equipment branch, which is basically the stores, there is an officer mentioned who has the AFC. This award is only presented for an exemplary gallant act while flying, so obviously this officer once flew but has now transferred to the equipment section.

It is like a pay grade, obviously the more senior the officer the more pay he or she will receive. As I said the rank doesn't necessarily relate to the work the officer does. At one of the stations I served on the Doctor was a Wing Commander, the next rank up from Squadron Leader. He once told me he had never been in a plane let alone fly one. There are many anomalies in the RAF, the doctor was an expert on tropical diseases, something his expertise wasn't called for very often in the middle of Warwickshire.
balloney, you didn't mention it but if you have his service number it will greatly simplify discovering his history.
Thank you for best answer.

[balloney]

Hi Vulcan 42,
his service number is 21159.

[pixie374]

Hi, I have just asked my sister, as he is a distant relative of ours as well. She was on Ancesty... and if she knows anything more, I will post back x

[pixie374]

This is the most I have at the moment, which you have probably seen already...
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/details.php?qnum=104395

[vulcan42]

Now that's interesting. I checked in the Forces war record, listed are a number of William Frederick Quilliam's, your relation is specifically mentioned against his service number and the officer who served in the accountant branch ( the one mentioned in the London Gazette) was a flight lieutenant. Unfortunately it doesn't specify where your relation was stationed. I shall continue searching other records.

[RAFMontrose]

Hi, just noticed your post. William Frederick Quilliam was based at RAF Montrose around 1936-1937 as Senior Accounting Officer. He is mentioned in the Operations Record Book for 8 Flying Training School who were based at Montrose from 1936 to 1942.
If you would like to get in touch we could send through a copy of the ORB page.