Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry
D.S.O. London Gazette 7 November 1944. The recommendation states: ‘ ‘Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, this officer has participated in a large number of sorties. He has continued to display the highest standard of skill, courage and leadership, qualities which have been reflected in the efficiency and fine fighting spirit of the squadron he commands. His devotion to duty has been unfailing.’
D.F.C. London Gazette 4 December 1942. The recommendation states: ‘Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal this bomb aimer has participated in many operational sorties. In October, 1942, he took part in an attack on Genoa and made 4 runs over the target area to ensure his bombs would strike their objective. On a previous occasion he was detailed to act as navigator and bomb aimer on a sortie over Hamburg. Despite the terrifically heavy defences, he made 4 runs over the target and obtained 2 excellent photographs. Squadron Leader Watkins always displays great determination to locate and bomb the target. His coolness and courage under fire are outstanding and his devotion to duty has been a high example.’
D.F.M. London Gazette 7 June 1940. The recommendation states: ‘Sergeant Watkins was the observer and bomb aimer in an aircraft which carried out an attack on a large convoy of enemy transport one night in May 1940. Five runs were made over the target, at heights between one thousand and fifteen hundred feet and in the face of anti-aircraft fire and continuous searchlight activity. Sergeant Watkins displayed great coolness and determination throughout the operation. He has been engaged in several other raids and has shown conduct in accordance with the highest traditions of the service. His bomb aiming and navigation have materially assisted in the success of the operation in which he has participated.’
M.I.D. London Gazette 24 September 1941.
William David Gordon Watkins was born in London on 11 September 1908. He initially served in the Royal Artillery (Territorial Army) from 11 March 1929 until 10 March 1933, being discharged with the rank of Lance Sergeant. On 25 August 1936, he joined the Royal Air Force with the rank of Armourer (AC2), no. 534190. His first operational posting was posted to 25(F) Squadron in May 1937 and he was promoted Armourer (AC1) in December that year. Attending the Air Gunners’ course at 2 Advanced Training School in May and June 1938, he was re-mustered Armourer/Air Gunner on 18 June 1938 and on 3 June 1939 as Air Observer.
By the outbreak of the Second World War Watkins was serving with 75 (New Zealand) Squadron, flying Wellington Mk1’s. During this period, the squadron served in a training roll, where Watkins ‘formed a strong friendship towards New Zealanders as he admired their ability to recognise a job to be done and then doing the necessary.’ He then briefly served with 214 Squadron, flying Wellington Mk1’s, during November 1939, before being posted to 149 (East India) Squadron on 5 December of that year, again flying Wellington Mk1’s. Serving as Acting Sergeant Air Observer from 31 December 1939, he was confirmed with that rank on 18 March 1940 and was awarded the Air Observer Badge a week later.
Re-classed as Air Bomber, Watkins continued to serve with this squadron, which formed part of 3 Group, taking part in numerous operations and being awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in June that year. Clearly a skilled bomb aimer and navigator, he was commissioned Pilot Officer on 12 September 1940 and continued to serve with 149 Squadron on Air Observer duty. Serving as Acting Flying Officer from 6 December 1940 and Acting Flight Lieutenant from 23 June 1941, he was posted to HQ 3 Group the same day, serving on Armaments duties. Confirmed in the rank of Flying Officer on 12 September 1941, he was again honoured for his service, being Mentioned in Despatches on 24 September 1941.
On 4 February 1942 Watkins was posted to Directorate of Training (Operations) as Acting Squadron Leader. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 4 December 1942, his recommendation again points to his skills as a bomb aimer and navigator, but also twice points to two particular occasions where he made 4 runs over the target area to obtain accurate results. This dedication to getting the job done gained him another moniker, crews calling him ‘four-run’ Watkins. Interestingly, one of the raids singled out, the attack on Genoa in October 1942, suggests that although serving at the Directorate of Training, he still took part in operational sorties.
On 8 March 1943 Watkins started his third Operational Tour, being posted to 214 (Federated Malay States) Squadron as an Air Bomber. During his tour, 214 Squadron flew Stirling Mk1’s, as part of Bomber Command’s main bomber force. Promoted to the rank of Acting Wing Commander on 5 August 1943, he transferred to HQ (Operations Room) 3 Group the same day. On 6 March 1944, Watkins was posted to Feltwell as Commanding Officer and Officers Advanced Training School two weeks later, here attending the Junior Commanders Course. On completion of the course on 15 April 1944, Watkins was posted to Command of 15 Squadron, this being a rare posting of an Observer to command of a squadron; indeed, it is believed this was the first such posting. With 15 Squadron, he was now flying in Lancaster Mk1’s and was again part of the main bomber force. At times serving with the key roll of Master Bomber, Watkins was responsible for leading large scale raids to their correct targets. Another member of the squadron described him as ‘a true leader by example, not only lofty in stature but lofty in integrity, courage and loyalty’. Awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 7 November 1944, he was posted Missing in Action nine days later.
Shot Down and Prisoner of War
At 13.27 hours on 16 November 1944, Wing Commander Watkins, serving as Master Bomber, took off in Lancaster PB137. Leading 182 Lancasters of 3 Group, they were tasked with bombing enemy troop positions at Heinsberg, on the North Rhine. In the vicinity of the target, PB137 was shot down. According to Watkins’s youngest son, PB137 was hit by anti-aircraft fire which caused the target indicators to explode and Watkins was either thrown out or bailed out aircraft as it broke up. He can also ‘recall a hand written note in which my father recorded he was unconscious for a period as the aircraft exploded and came to when descending with part of his clothes and parachute on fire. He could not establish if any of the crew managed to bail out.’ Landing in the vicinity of the battery that shot him down, the battery crew ‘protected him from hostile locals before he was taken into custody and sent to Stalag Luft 1 at Barth, in Western Pomerania, Germany. Admitted in “damaged condition” and he was designated Senior British Officer.’ Of the eight man crew of PB137, Watkins was the only survivor, remaining a Prisoner of War for the remainder of hostilities.
On 30 April 1945, the prisoners at Stalag Luft 1 were ordered to evacuate the camp in the face of the advancing Soviet Red Army but the Senior American Officer, Colonel Hubert Zemke, refused to give the order. After negotiations between Zemke and the commandant, it was agreed that to avoid useless bloodshed the guards would go, leaving the P.O.W.s behind. The next day, the first Soviet troops arrived. The Soviet troops treated German civilians in the area badly, but American and Commonwealth personnel were treated with respect (the liberated P.O.W.s were careful to wear armbands on which their nationality was written in Russian). The Russian soldiers replaced the Germans as guards and locked the gates and refused the Allied soldiers to be evacuated, it wasn’t until almost two weeks later that a US Colonel showed up and threatened to shoot the Soviet Commander if he didn’t allow his ‘Allies’ to be released. With the threat of being shot he ordered the gates opened and the prisoners to be evacuated. B-17 Bombers that had all of their armaments taken out were flown in and all remaining Allied prisoners were finally evacuated by air. Between 13–15 May, the camp was evacuated by American aircraft in Operation Revival. The British P.O.W.s were returned directly to Great Britain.
As can be seen from the above, tensions were high when the Russian’s arrived, and according to the recipient’s family: ‘when it came time to abandon Stalag Luft 1 camp, an attempt was made to assassinate Dad. He was reading on his bunk and happened to shift his position as a shot was fired into his pillow.’
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