William Durrand, Jr.

William Durrand, Jr.
Born (1885-05-04)4 May 1885
Wick, Caithness, Scotland
Died 12 October 1939(1939-10-12) (aged 54)
Kenmore, New York, USA
Allegiance George V of the British Empire
Service/branch Aviation
Years of service 1916 - 1919
Rank Lieutenant
Unit No. 20 Squadron RFC
Awards Military Cross

Lieutenant William Durrand, Jr. was a Canadian flying ace from World War I. He was credited with eight aerial victories.[1]

Durrand enlisted in the Canadian military on 11 March 1916.[2] On 30 August 1916, Sergeant William Durrand of the 66th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force was commissioned a Temporary Second Lieutenant with the Royal Flying Corps.[3]

On 1 March 1917 appointed Flying Officer while still Temporary Second Lieutenant.[4] He was then assigned to 20 Squadron to pilot a Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2d. He scored his first victory on 8 June 1917, with Edward Sayers manning the observer's guns. Durrand scored three more wins while flying a FE.2, with number four coming on 21 September. He then upgraded to another two-seater fighter, the Bristol F.2, and scored again almost immediately, on the 27th, with observer William Benger as his gunner.[5] His next victory came on the first day he flew as Temporary Captain and Flight Commander,[6] 17 October 1917. Durrand scored twice more with the Bristol, ending his victory string on 8 November 1917. His final tally was two enemy planes driven down out of control, and six destroyed (including one shared with Reginald Makepeace).[7]

He was transferred to the Royal Air Force unemployed list on 18 May 1919.[8][9]

Honors and awards

Awarded the 'Military Cross on 17 December 1917.[10][11]

Sources of information

  1. ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/durrand.php Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
  2. ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/durrand.php Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
  3. ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 9 September 1916) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29741/supplements/8878 Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
  4. ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 21 March 1917) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29994/supplements/2828 Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
  5. ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/durrand.php Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
  6. ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 1 November 1916) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30361/supplements/11277 Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
  7. ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/durrand.php Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
  8. ↑ (The London Gazette, 15 July 1919) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31458/pages/9003 Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
  9. ↑ (The London Gazette, 15 July 1919) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31458/pages/9004 Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
  10. ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 17 December 1916) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30431/supplements/13181 Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
  11. ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 17 December 1916) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30431/supplements/13182 Retrieved on 16 March 2010.
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