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Willie McKnight
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Willie McKnight
William Lidstone McKnight, DFC & Bar (18 November 1918 – 12 January 1941) was a Canadian flying ace with the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the Second World War. He was Canada's fifth-highest scoring ace of the war, credited with shooting down nineteen aircraft.
From Alberta, McKnight joined the RAF in early 1939 and served in No. 242 Squadron during the final phase of the Battle of France, covering the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk and then the Allied retreat from Brittany, during which he claimed his first aerial victories. Afterwards he was briefly hospitalised due to exhaustion. He flew in the Battle of Britain, often as wing man to Squadron Leader Douglas Bader, claiming several more victories. Twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, he was shot down and killed on 12 January 1941 during a sortie to Gravelines.
William Lidstone "Willie" McKnight was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on 18 November 1918. He grew up in Calgary where he attended Crescent Heights High School. Although he achieved high marks academically, he was a high-spirited student, often causing mischief. After completing his schooling, he went to medical school at the University of Alberta. In February 1939 he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) on a short service commission.
McKnight began training in mid-April at No. 6 Flying Training School (FTS) at Little Rissington as an acting pilot officer on probation. Still prone to mischief, he was twice placed under arrest and confined to his barracks during the course of his training. Despite his misdemeanors, he duly gained his 'wings'.
In November 1939, McKnight was posted to No. 242 Squadron. This had been formed on 30 October 1939 at Church Fenton with Canadians as its flying personnel. The first aircraft assigned to the squadron were Blenheim MK IF twin-engined fighters and Fairey Battle light bombers but Hawker Hurricane fighters were sent in January 1940. McKnight chose to personalise his aircraft with a cartoon of a jackboot kicking Adolf Hitler and an image of the Grim Repear holding a sickle in its hand. After transitioning to the more potent Hurricane, the squadron became operational in March 1940. By this time McKnight had been confirmed in his pilot officer rank.
As part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), No. 242 Squadron began operations over France in mid-May, a detachment being based at French airfields. McKnight meanwhile had been attached to No. 607 Squadron, in France, but was there for only two days before being transferred to No. 615 Squadron at Abbeville. On 19 May, McKnight scored his first victory patrolling near Cambrai destroying a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter.
On 21 May McKnight was withdrawn to Britain and a few days later rejoined No. 242 Squadron, stationed at Biggin Hill. By this time, the retreating BEF and allied armies were being pushed into Dunkirk and the squadron flew patrols over the area. McKnight shot down a Bf 109 near Ostend on 28 May. Another Bf 109 was shot down by McKnight, this time to the north of Dunkirk, the next day, as well shooting down a Dornier Do 17 medium bomber about 9 miles (14 km) to the east of Dunkirk. A second Bf 109 claimed as destroyed was unable to be confirmed. On 31 May, McKnight shot down a pair of Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighters as well as a Bf 109, all in the vicinity of Dunkirk. The next day, he destroyed two Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers; McKnight's claims for two more destroyed Ju 87s were not confirmed.
No. 242 Squadron was sent to France on 8 June to reinforce the RAF units still supporting the remnants of the BEF still there. The pace of operations was hectic, as the squadron and its personnel relocated several times as the BEF retreated towards the Atlantic coast. At times the squadron's pilots were having to service their own aircraft. McKnight destroyed two Bf 109s to the south of Champagne on 14 June. The same day, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for which the published citation read:
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Willie McKnight
William Lidstone McKnight, DFC & Bar (18 November 1918 – 12 January 1941) was a Canadian flying ace with the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the Second World War. He was Canada's fifth-highest scoring ace of the war, credited with shooting down nineteen aircraft.
From Alberta, McKnight joined the RAF in early 1939 and served in No. 242 Squadron during the final phase of the Battle of France, covering the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk and then the Allied retreat from Brittany, during which he claimed his first aerial victories. Afterwards he was briefly hospitalised due to exhaustion. He flew in the Battle of Britain, often as wing man to Squadron Leader Douglas Bader, claiming several more victories. Twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, he was shot down and killed on 12 January 1941 during a sortie to Gravelines.
William Lidstone "Willie" McKnight was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on 18 November 1918. He grew up in Calgary where he attended Crescent Heights High School. Although he achieved high marks academically, he was a high-spirited student, often causing mischief. After completing his schooling, he went to medical school at the University of Alberta. In February 1939 he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) on a short service commission.
McKnight began training in mid-April at No. 6 Flying Training School (FTS) at Little Rissington as an acting pilot officer on probation. Still prone to mischief, he was twice placed under arrest and confined to his barracks during the course of his training. Despite his misdemeanors, he duly gained his 'wings'.
In November 1939, McKnight was posted to No. 242 Squadron. This had been formed on 30 October 1939 at Church Fenton with Canadians as its flying personnel. The first aircraft assigned to the squadron were Blenheim MK IF twin-engined fighters and Fairey Battle light bombers but Hawker Hurricane fighters were sent in January 1940. McKnight chose to personalise his aircraft with a cartoon of a jackboot kicking Adolf Hitler and an image of the Grim Repear holding a sickle in its hand. After transitioning to the more potent Hurricane, the squadron became operational in March 1940. By this time McKnight had been confirmed in his pilot officer rank.
As part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), No. 242 Squadron began operations over France in mid-May, a detachment being based at French airfields. McKnight meanwhile had been attached to No. 607 Squadron, in France, but was there for only two days before being transferred to No. 615 Squadron at Abbeville. On 19 May, McKnight scored his first victory patrolling near Cambrai destroying a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter.
On 21 May McKnight was withdrawn to Britain and a few days later rejoined No. 242 Squadron, stationed at Biggin Hill. By this time, the retreating BEF and allied armies were being pushed into Dunkirk and the squadron flew patrols over the area. McKnight shot down a Bf 109 near Ostend on 28 May. Another Bf 109 was shot down by McKnight, this time to the north of Dunkirk, the next day, as well shooting down a Dornier Do 17 medium bomber about 9 miles (14 km) to the east of Dunkirk. A second Bf 109 claimed as destroyed was unable to be confirmed. On 31 May, McKnight shot down a pair of Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighters as well as a Bf 109, all in the vicinity of Dunkirk. The next day, he destroyed two Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers; McKnight's claims for two more destroyed Ju 87s were not confirmed.
No. 242 Squadron was sent to France on 8 June to reinforce the RAF units still supporting the remnants of the BEF still there. The pace of operations was hectic, as the squadron and its personnel relocated several times as the BEF retreated towards the Atlantic coast. At times the squadron's pilots were having to service their own aircraft. McKnight destroyed two Bf 109s to the south of Champagne on 14 June. The same day, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for which the published citation read:
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