The two letters were given to my mother, Billy’s cousin, on the death of Billy’s sister Sheila.
The are the last two letters written by Billy bond to his mother before he was killed in a training accident one dated nine days before death.
Shortly after starting work as a chemist’s apprentice war was declared. This was a protected job exempting him from being called up. However, Billy was so keen to fight for his country that he enlisted on 4th September 1939, the day after war was declared.
He officially commenced his service in the RAF as aircraft crew on 11th September the same year. He was part of Bomber Command stationed at RAF Bicester with Squadron 130TU and flew various aircraft including the Bristol Blenheim 1.
My mother remembers that Billy was ‘full of fun’ and very handsome.
Billy’s cheeky character was perfectly illustrated when he would fly over his parents house and drop his washing in the garden!
Although Billy had no driving lessons he bought himself a little car, apparently presuming that as he could fly a plane he would be able to drive a car well enough. He took a drive up to see his father only a few weeks before he died.
Billy Bond served for only one year and 167 days before tragedy struck on 24th February 1941. He was on a training exercise over the airfield flying a Blenheim L1309.
RAF database of losses states: aircraft accident, Blenheim L1309
13 operational training- night flying practice
Reason for loss: Climbed to 400′ then entered a steep dive and crashed bursting into flames
His obituary noted him as ‘a youth of high intellectual attributes’ and that’ he had a likeable personality in which his modesty was delightfully balanced by inspiring cheerfulness.
Billy is buried in Grave 10, Caversfield (St. Lawrence) Churchyard, Oxfordshire.
