Description
Distinguished Flying Medal, GVI, 1664317 Flight Sergeant later Pilot Officer Ernest Charles William “Bill” Bull, 550 Squadron, R.A.F.V.R. for over 29 Flights as Flight Engineer.
Officially engraved: “1664317 Sgt E.C.W. Bull R.A.F.”
During his service Bill Bull flew in the “Phantom of the Ruhr” Lancaster Bomber EE139, during 2007 the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight celebrated 50 years and underwent a complete refit to fly again in the livery of 550 Squadorn Lancaster EE139 “The Phantom of the Ruhr”, a ton up lancaster that flew her first 30 ops with 100 Squadron based at waltham before completing a further 91 ops with NO 550 Squadron at North Killinghome.
At the time this was the only remaining flying Lancaster Bomber in Europe.
Notably during his tour of operations he bombed Berlin 7 times and would also bomb France on D-Day, during the Normandy Landings on 6th June 1944
With a meticulous file of research detailing his flights, full recommendations, his crew, photograph and even a letter between the previous owner and one of his comrades from his crew, Stan Keirle who gives some personal recollection of him.
This medal was announced in the London Gazette, 19th September 1944, being one of only 13 DFMs earned by 550 Squadron, of which was the first awarded.
The original recommendation for the award recalls he had done 29 1/3 Operations over 175.54 Flying Hours:
“Sergeant Bull has completed over 29 1/3 sorties involving 176 Operational Flying Hours.
As a Flight Engineer he has earned a high reputation for cool and resolute courage and has at all times shown the greatest enthusiasm for operations.
His example as a Flight Engineer has been has been of the highest standard. Most of his sorties have been over the Enemy’s heavily defended areas and include seven on Berlin.
For his coolness and display of exceptional fearlessness in the face of danger he fully merits, I consider, the man – immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.” The award was made as a Non-Immediate contrary to the recommendation of his Wing Commander.
His station commander, the Group Captain Commander of RAF North Killingholme would add:
“The meticulous care and energy in which Sergeant Bull has carried out his pre flight preparations has been an inspiration to the Flight Engineers in this Squadron.
At all times he has devoted time and energy to the smallest detail. Such co-operation and willingness to help others combined with his fine record of achievement on his many hazardous missions is worthy of the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal, for which I support the Squadron Commander’s recommendation.”
His Base Commander, Air Commodore, Air Officer Commanding of NO 13 Base RAF would add:
“A high percentage of Sergeant Bull’s operational sorties involving seven on BERLIN has been carried out against the enemy’s most heavily defended targets. This has in no way taken the edge of this NCOs keenness to fly on operations, and in fact his courage, cheerfulness, and fine offensive spirit has contributed largely to the success of the operation sorties in which he has taken part.
His skill as an Air Gunner, and his vigilant watch during long hours over enemy territory has won for him the complete confidence and admiration of his crew, and has set a fine example the other Air Gunners in the Squadron.
I support his recommendation for the non immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.”
The Air Vice Marshall, Air Officer Commanding concurred:
“Strongly recommended for the non-immediate award of the D.F.M.”
“Bill joined the Crew sometime in Early December and his first trip with us was to Berlin. I remember that very clearly because as we were on the run up to the target with the atmosphere was as tense as one can possible imagine, BILL looking out of the perspex bubble in the starboard side window up front; over the intercom for all crew to hear said something like, ‘You know, that flak is so pretty.’
Every member of the crew jumped all over him, telling him to belt up and other horrid things. I like to think he was trying to break the tension but at that particular moment, we all wondered how he could be so calm and so stupid at the same time!.
Again from the best of my recollection, after that, BILL flew every trip with us until the night of 30/31st March 1944. He had developed a very bad cold and was grounded by the Medical People.
That night we were operational to Nuremberg and 1329560 Sgt Robert Paxton was assigned to the crew as our Flight Engineer.
Unfortunately Robert was one of those who were killed when we were shot down around midnight. So in many ways Bill was very lucky to have the cold which caused his grounding and as I understood from you, enabled him to finish his tour, be awarded the DFM and later to be commissioned.”
Note his Pilot Flight Sergeant Arthur Dennis Jefferies was awarded the posthumous CGM Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for this flight, where by coincidence Bill might have escaped his death.
Ernest Charles William Bull, better known as William or “Bill” Bull, was born in Brentford, Middlesex during 1907.
He married Alice M. Goodwin in Lambeth during 1929.
In the lead up to World War 2, he was living during 1939 in Winchester, Hampshire with his wife and family.
He worked as a local Government Office and was a member of the A.T.C. Air Training Corps.
He first enlisted into the RAF during 1942.
He later died in Honiton, Devon during 1979.
