• Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)

Date of birth:

March 24th, 1920 (Wakefield/Yorkshire, United Kingdom)

Date of death:

September 15th, 1943 (North Sea)

Mentioned on:

Air Forces Memorial Runnymede

Service number:

1013557

Nationality:

British

William Hatton was born on 24 March 1920 in Wakefield, Yorkshire, as the eldest of four children of George and Florence Hatton. He attended Holy Trinity and Thornes House schools.

At the start of the war, Hatton joined the RAF as groundcrew, later working on the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit at RAF Speke, maintaining Hurricanes launched from merchant ships to protect Atlantic convoys. These aircraft had no landing capability, requiring pilots to bale out after missions.

When experienced groundcrew were offered training as flight engineers for heavy bombers, Hatton applied and trained at RAF St Athan. By late 1942, he qualified and joined 1660 Conversion Unit at RAF Swinderby. Hatton moved to 207 Squadron in February 1943. Tragically, one of his crew members was killed days later, and the crew was reassigned to 97 Squadron under David Maltby before transferring to 617 Squadron in March.

Following the Dams Raid, Hatton was celebrated in his hometown as a “Wakefield Hero.” On 14 September 1943, during 617 Squadron's next major operation, his aircraft crashed and sank, leaving Hatton with no known grave. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

• Photo 1: Findagrave
• - CWGC

Helaas geen map gevonden.