Group Captain William Victor Strugnell (23 July 1892 – 1977) was a British First World War flying ace credited with six aerial victories. He went on to a long career in the Royal Air Force, and serving throughout the Second World War.

Early military service

Strugnell's father was a sergeant major. At the age of 15, Strugnell joined the

Royal Engineers The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is a corps of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces and is heade ...

as a bugler. He then transferred to the Hampshire Regiment as a sapper, before being seconded to the

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soon after its formation on 13 April 1912, serving as an Air Mechanic in

No. 3 Squadron RFC Number 3 Squadron, also known as No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron, of the Royal Air Force operates the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, since reforming on 1 April 2006. It was first formed on 13 May 1912 as one of the first squ ...

from 13 May. Strugnell trained as a pilot, and was granted Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate No. 253 on 24 July 1912, after a soloing a Bristol biplane at the Army School on

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, being the third non-commissioned officer in the British military to receive a pilot's license. He later served in

No. 5 Squadron RFC Number 5 (Army Co-operation) Squadron (although His Majesty the King awarded No. V (Army Cooperation) Squadron) was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It most recently operated the Raytheon Sentinel R1 Airborne STand-Off Radar (ASTOR) aircraf ...

World War I

On 27 June 1915 Strugnell, then a sergeant, was appointed a flying officer and commissioned as a

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for service in the field. He was posted to No. 1 Squadron RFC, and on 5 February 1916, piloted a Morane-Saulnier L that drove down an Aviatik C.I reconnaissance aircraft for his first victory. Soon after, on 12 February 1916, he was appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain. Strugnell served as a flight commander in

No. 43 Squadron RFC Number 43 Squadron, nicknamed ''the Fighting Cocks'', was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron originally formed in April 1916 as part of the Royal Flying Corps. It saw distinguished service during two world wars, producing numerous Flying ace, "ac ...

, from its formation at Stirling on 15 April 1916. On 3 June 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross "for Distinguished Service in the Field". Strugnell spent some time on instruction duty before returning to action flying a Sopwith Pup in No. 54 Squadron RFC as flight commander of "A" Flight. On 19 March 1917, he shared in the setting on fire of a German reconnaissance aircraft. On 14 April and 1 May, he sent another reconnaissance aircraft and an Albatros D.III down out of control. On 11 May 1917, he shared in the destruction of another reconnaissance aircraft, and soon after single-handedly destroyed an Albatros D.III. On 24 July 1917 his award of a Bar to his Military Cross was gazetted. His citation read: :Lieutenant (temporary Captain) William Victor Strugnell, MC, Hampshire Regiment and Royal Flying Corps. ::"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While leading an offensive patrol he attacked and brought down a hostile machine. Later, in the same patrol, he brought down a second machine. In all he has accounted for five machines and a kite balloon." On 1 September 1917 Strugnell was appointed a squadron commander with the acting rank of

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List of aerial victories

Inter-war career

On 1 August 1919 Strugnell was granted a permanent commission in the RAF with the rank of major ( squadron leader). He was posted to No. 1 Flying Training School (Inland Area), before being briefly attached the School of Military Administration at Chiseldon from 23 September to 1 November 1921, after which he was assigned to the RAF Depot (Inland Area) as a supernumerary officer. On 14 September 1922 he was posted to the RAF Aircraft Depot in Iraq, transferring to the Engine Repair Depot, Egypt, on 18 October 1924, before eventually returning to the UK when posted to the RAF Depot, Uxbridge, on his transfer to the Home Establishment on 9 May 1926. From 1 September 1926 Strugnell served at the headquarters of No. 21 (Training) Group at RAF West Drayton. On 1 July 1928 he was promoted to wing commander, and on 1 September was appointed Officer Commanding of No. 9 Squadron, based at RAF Manston, forming part of No. 51 (Night Bomber) Wing. In August 1930 the Vickers Virginia bombers of No. 51 Wing formed part of the "Blue" forces in the annual RAF Exercises. On 10 January 1931 Strugnell was posted to the Home Aircraft Depot at RAF Henlow for administrative duties. He was promoted to

group captain Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force, where it originated, as well as the air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. It is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank i ...

on 3 July 1934, returning to the Middle East to serve as commander of No. 1 Armoured Car Company at RAF Hinaidi, Iraq, until 19 February 1935. He then commanded the Reception Depot at West Drayton from 3 April 1935, and was station commander of RAF Manston from 10 August 1935.

World War II service

Strugnell served throughout the Second World War. He was a station commander in Algeria in 1943, and received a mention in despatches on 8 June 1944. He retired from the RAF on 7 June 1945, only a month after the end of the war on Europe. On 12 February 1951, he was commissioned as a

flight lieutenant Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in air forces that use the Royal Air Force (RAF) system of ranks, especially in Commonwealth countries. It has a NATO rank code of OF-2. Flight lieutenant is abbreviated as Flt Lt in the India ...

(Class J) in the Royal Air Force Reserve of Officers, relinquishing his commission exactly eight years later on 12 February 1959.

References

Bibliography

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Strugnell, William 1892 births 1977 deaths Royal Engineers soldiers Royal Hampshire Regiment soldiers Royal Flying Corps soldiers Royal Flying Corps officers British World War I flying aces Recipients of the Military Cross Royal Air Force officers Royal Air Force personnel of World War I Royal Air Force personnel of World War II Military personnel from Southampton