• Bristol Beaufighter
• Junker Ju 88
• Messerschmitt Bf 110

Date of birth:

1917

Date of death:

July 16th, 1942

Service number:

37422

Nationality:

Irish (1919-present, Republic)

Wing Commander William Riley was killed on July 16th, 1942 when his Bristol Beaufighter collided with another in mid-air. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered at the Alamein Memorial, Egypt.

Promotions:
October 21st, 1935: acting Pilot Officer on probation;
August 26th, 1936: Pilot Officer;
April 26th, 1938: Flying Officer;
April 26th, 1940: Flight Lieutenant;
October 1st, 1941: temporary Squadron Leader (seniority June 1st, 1941);
June 1st, 1942: temporary Wing Commander.

Career:
August 1935: Royal Air Force;
November 2nd, 1935: No. 11 Flying Training School;
May 11th, 1936: No. 54 Squadron, Hornchurch;
February 9th, 1937: Staff Pilot, Signals Squadron, Electrical and Wireless School, Cranwell;
December 16th, 1938: Administrative Staff, Headquarters RAF Far East, Singapore;
November 11th, 1939: No. 12 Group Pool, Aston Down;
December 22nd, 1939: No. 610 Squadron, Wittering;
May 1940: No. 263 Squadron;
July 17th, 1940: Flight Commander No. 302 (Polish) Squadron, Leconfield;
1941: No. 252 Squadron;
October 1941: Controller No. 201 Group;
April 1942: No. 272 Squadron.

Victories:
May 24th, 1940: Heinkel He 111 (shared);
May 26th, 1940: Heinkel He 111;
August 21st, 1940: Junkers Ju 88 (probably);
September 18th, 1940: Junkers Ju 88;
September 18th, 1940: Junker Ju 88 (probably);
September 19th, 1940: Junker Ju 88 (shared);
October 15th, 1940: Messerschmitt Bf 109E;
April 16th, 1941: Focke-Wulf FW 200;
May 7th, 1941: Caproni Ca.310 (shared);
April 14th, 1942: Messerschmitt Bf 110;
April 14th, 1942: Messerschmitt Bf110;
April 14th, 1942: Junkers Ju 88 (damaged);
May 1st, 1942: Junkers Ju 52/3m;
June 14th, 1942: Junkers Ju 88;
July 11th, 1942: Junkers Ju 52/3m.

Own aircraft:
Gloster Gladiator Mk II (No. 263 Squadron);
Hawker Hurricane Mk I R4095 "WX-M" (No. 302 Squadron);
Hawker Hurricane Mk I V6735 "M" (No. 302 Squadron);
Hawker hurricane MK I P3923 "U" (No. 302 Squadron);
Bristol Beaufighter Mk Ic T3237 "PK-N" (No. 252 Squadron);
Bristol Beaufighter Mk Ic "R" (No. 272 Squadron);
Bristol Beaufighter Mk Ic "D" (No. 272 Squadron);
Bristol Beaufighter Mk Ic T4880 "Q" (No. 272 Squadron).

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• - The London Gazette of 12th November 1935, Issue 34219
  - The London Gazette of 6th October 1936, Issue 34329
  - The London Gazette of 26th April 1938, Issue 34505
  - The London Gazette of 11th June 1940, Issue 34870
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 28th October 1941, Issue 35329, dated 31st October 1941
  - The London Gazette of 9th December 1941, Issue 35373
  - The London Gazette of 3rd July 1942, Issue 35618
  - Commonwealth Wargraves Commission
  - Hakans aviation page