William Walker never fogotten: the last Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot dies
RIP Flt Lt William Walker. He was the last of The Few, the pilots who fought the Battle of Britain in 1940. (Photos.) He was 99. William Walker joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve on 2 September 1938. On 26 August 1940, Walker and his comrades met the invading Germans over Kent. Walker’s Spitfire was hit. He baled over the English Channel. A bullet was lodged in his ankle. He was saved by hanging on to a shipwreck on Goodwin Sands. A fishing boat rescued him.
Europe has changed since then. Thank God. If it wasn’t for people like Mr Walker, the Germans would have invaded Britain by land and sea. Had they done so… On a personal note, back then my family lived in the East End of London and inner city Leeds. One half had escaped Russia; the other hailed hailed from North Africa, Spain and Portugal. They had fought and beaten the fascists at Cable Street. But the Germans would have slaughtered them. Mr Walker was one man willing and brave enough to make a stand. That’s no small thing…
14948484
Posted: 23rd, October 2012 | In: Reviews Comments (2) | TrackBack | Permalink
