William Vale
Encyclopedia
Squadron Leader
William "Cherry" Vale DFC
& Bar
, AFC
(3 June 1914 – 29 November 1981) was a Royal Air Force
(RAF) pilot
who, during the Second World War
, claimed 30 enemy aircraft shot down and shared in the destruction of three others, and also claiming 6 damaged and another two shared damaged.
His 20 kills achieved while flying the Hawker Hurricane
and his 10 with the Gloster Gladiator
made him the second highest scoring Hurricane and second high scoring biplane pilot (second in both cases to Marmaduke Pattle
) in the RAF.
.In 1936 he began training as a pilot at 4 FTS, Abu Sueir. He returned as a Sergeant pilot to 33 squadron in late 1937. In March 1938 the unit converted to the Gloster Gladiator
.
at the beginning of the war, Vale flew operations over the Libyan border. Between 1 July 1940 and 28 February 1941 Vale claimed 10 Regia Aeronautica
aircraft in the Gladiator, although several of his victories are not confirmed.
He claimed his first victory on 1 July 1940, a Fiat CR.32
over Fort Capuzzo
. But this claim cannot be verified with Italian sources as the 50° Stormo, the only unit operating this type did not suffer any losses on this day.
On 15 July, during a defensive patrol he claimed a shared Savoia Marchetti SM.79
near Mersa Matruh. The Italian unit involved is not known and this claim cannot be verified with Regia Aeronautica
records.
In July Vale was commissioned and posted to No. 80 Squadron. He saw action over Greece
and the Balkans
through late 1940 and early 1941, and flew over Crete
in May 1941 in defence of the island.
Between 3 March 1941 and 12 June 1941 Vale claimed some 20 kills, all while flying the Hawker Hurricane
. Some of these victories however remain to be confirmed.
For instance on 4 March 1941 he claimed a Fiat G.50
destroyed over Himare
-Valona
, in Albania
, while flying Hurricane V7589. The Regia Aeronautica did not report losing any G.50. types.
On 18 May Vale was evacuated from Crete to Egypt.
He then flew operations over Syria
against the Vichy French. and three of his kills were over Vichy French Air Force
aircraft. On 11 June 1941, Vale claimed a Potez 63 of GR II/39, which was damaged. Next day he claimed two Dewoitine D.520 fighters near Haifa.
With the chaotic retreats from Greece and Crete official RAF records -including combat reports-were destroyed, making many pilot's claims for enemy aircraft destroyed impossible to verify. However Vale's claim total appears to be around 30 with 3 shared destroyed, 6 damaged and 1 shared damaged.
But at least seven of his claims cannot be verified with Regia Aeronautica and Luftwaffe records.
Vale had fought in the North African Campaign
, Greek Campaign and the Battle of Crete
.
Vale did not participate in combat operations for the remainder of the war.
Awarded the DFC
and bar, in July 1941 Vale was posted to RAF Haifa
as Operations Officer, returning to the United Kingdom in April 1942 to become CFI at 59 OTU. In March 1943 Vale attended the Central Gunnery School at Sutton Bridge
, then commanded 11 AFC at Fairwood Common
until the end of the war.
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
William "Cherry" Vale DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
(3 June 1914 – 29 November 1981) was a Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF) pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
who, during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, claimed 30 enemy aircraft shot down and shared in the destruction of three others, and also claiming 6 damaged and another two shared damaged.
His 20 kills achieved while flying the Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
and his 10 with the Gloster Gladiator
Gloster Gladiator
The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it...
made him the second highest scoring Hurricane and second high scoring biplane pilot (second in both cases to Marmaduke Pattle
Marmaduke Pattle
Squadron Leader Marmaduke Thomas St. John "Pat" Pattle DFC & Bar was a South African-born Second World War flying ace for the Royal Air Force. Pattle was a fighter ace with a very high score, and is sometimes noted as being the highest-scoring British and Commonwealth pilot of the Second World War...
) in the RAF.
Entry into RAF
Born in Chatham, Kent, William Vale entered the RAF in 1931 as a Fitter and then as a Gunner. In 1935 he was posted to No. 33 Squadron RAF in Egypt, equipped with the Hawker HartHawker Hart
The Hawker Hart was a British two-seater biplane light bomber of the Royal Air Force , which had a prominent role during the RAF's inter-war period. The Hart was designed during the 1920s by Sydney Camm and built by Hawker Aircraft...
.In 1936 he began training as a pilot at 4 FTS, Abu Sueir. He returned as a Sergeant pilot to 33 squadron in late 1937. In March 1938 the unit converted to the Gloster Gladiator
Gloster Gladiator
The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it...
.
Combat Operations
Based in EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
at the beginning of the war, Vale flew operations over the Libyan border. Between 1 July 1940 and 28 February 1941 Vale claimed 10 Regia Aeronautica
Regia Aeronautica
The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
aircraft in the Gladiator, although several of his victories are not confirmed.
He claimed his first victory on 1 July 1940, a Fiat CR.32
Fiat CR.32
The Fiat CR.32 was an Italian biplane fighter used in the Spanish Civil War and World War II. This nimble little Fiat was compact, robust and highly manoeuvrable and gave impressive displays all over Europe in the hands of the Pattuglie Acrobatiche. The CR.32 fought in North and East Africa, in...
over Fort Capuzzo
Fort Capuzzo
Fort Capuzzo was a fort in the Italiancolony of Libya, near the Libyan-Egyptian border. It is famous for its role during the World War II.Within a week of Italy's 10 June 1940 declaration of war upon Britain, the British Army's 11th Hussars captured Fort Capuzzo...
. But this claim cannot be verified with Italian sources as the 50° Stormo, the only unit operating this type did not suffer any losses on this day.
On 15 July, during a defensive patrol he claimed a shared Savoia Marchetti SM.79
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero was a three-engined Italian medium bomber with a wood and metal structure. Originally designed as a fast passenger aircraft, this low-wing monoplane, in the years 1937–39, set 26 world records that qualified it for some time as the fastest medium bomber in the...
near Mersa Matruh. The Italian unit involved is not known and this claim cannot be verified with Regia Aeronautica
Regia Aeronautica
The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
records.
In July Vale was commissioned and posted to No. 80 Squadron. He saw action over Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
through late 1940 and early 1941, and flew over Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
in May 1941 in defence of the island.
Between 3 March 1941 and 12 June 1941 Vale claimed some 20 kills, all while flying the Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
. Some of these victories however remain to be confirmed.
For instance on 4 March 1941 he claimed a Fiat G.50
Fiat G.50
The Fiat G.50 Freccia was a World War II Italian fighter aircraft. First flown in February 1937, the G.50 was Italy’s first single-seat, all-metal monoplane with an enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear to go into production...
destroyed over Himare
Himarë
Himarë is a bilingual region and municipality along the Albanian Riviera in southern Albania and part of the District of Vlorë. Apart from the town of Himarë, the region consists of 7 other villages: Dhërmi, Pilur, Kudhës, Qeparo, Vuno, Iljas, and Palasë....
-Valona
Principality of Valona
The Principality of Valona was a medieval principality in Albania, roughly encompassing the territories of the modern counties of Vlorë , Fier, and Berat...
, in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, while flying Hurricane V7589. The Regia Aeronautica did not report losing any G.50. types.
On 18 May Vale was evacuated from Crete to Egypt.
He then flew operations over Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
against the Vichy French. and three of his kills were over Vichy French Air Force
Vichy French Air Force
The Vichy French Air Force was the aerial branch of the armed forces of Vichy France - the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers following the defeat of France by Germany in 1940....
aircraft. On 11 June 1941, Vale claimed a Potez 63 of GR II/39, which was damaged. Next day he claimed two Dewoitine D.520 fighters near Haifa.
With the chaotic retreats from Greece and Crete official RAF records -including combat reports-were destroyed, making many pilot's claims for enemy aircraft destroyed impossible to verify. However Vale's claim total appears to be around 30 with 3 shared destroyed, 6 damaged and 1 shared damaged.
But at least seven of his claims cannot be verified with Regia Aeronautica and Luftwaffe records.
Vale had fought in the North African Campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
, Greek Campaign and the Battle of Crete
Battle of Crete
The Battle of Crete was a battle during World War II on the Greek island of Crete. It began on the morning of 20 May 1941, when Nazi Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur...
.
Vale did not participate in combat operations for the remainder of the war.
Awarded the DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
and bar, in July 1941 Vale was posted to RAF Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
as Operations Officer, returning to the United Kingdom in April 1942 to become CFI at 59 OTU. In March 1943 Vale attended the Central Gunnery School at Sutton Bridge
Sutton Bridge
Sutton Bridge is a village and civil parish in southeastern Lincolnshire, England on the west bank of the River Nene in the district of South Holland.-Geography:...
, then commanded 11 AFC at Fairwood Common
Fairwood Common
Fairwood Common is a large area of barely populated common land in the heart of the Gower Peninsula, south Wales. It forms part of the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Swansea Airport is located in the middle of the common...
until the end of the war.