William George Chatteris

A Flying Officer with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, William died on 10th of March 1945 aged 24. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 11 May 1920, a son of William Frederick and Rose Ethel Chatteris. He was baptised at Saint John’s Church on 28 May 1920 and his family lived at 45 Windsor Road. In 1921 they lived at 1 May Road. By 1939 their home was at 30 Waveney Crescent, and William was a cabinet maker. 

William enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve between September 1939 and June 1940, service number 908375. By July 1943 he was a Corporal. William was commissioned as a Pilot Officer, service number 146883, on 10 July 1943 and Flying Officer on 10 January 1944. 

By March 1945 William was a Navigator serving with 15 Squadron South African Air Force, based at Cesenatico, Italy.  

On 10 March William was a member of the crew of a Baltimore V aircraft that was undertaking an armed reconnaissance flight in the Po Valley. The aircraft was descending, in haze, and crashed into a mountain near Monselice, Italy. 

WITH THAKS TO: Malcolm Barrass