| William Victor Strugnell | |
| Birth Date: | 23 July 1892 |
| Birth Place: | Southampton, England |
| Death Place: | Dorset, England |
| Nickname: | Struggy |
| Allegiance: | United Kingdom |
| Branch: | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Serviceyears: | 1907–1945 |
| Rank: | Group captain |
| Unit: | |
| Commands: | |
| Battles: | World War I Western Front World War II |
| Awards: | Military Cross & Bar |
Group Captain William Victor Strugnell (23 July 1892 – 1977) was a British First World War flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1] He went on to a long career in the Royal Air Force, and serving throughout the Second World War.
Strugnell's father was a sergeant major. At the age of 15, Strugnell joined the Royal Engineers as a bugler. He then transferred to the Hampshire Regiment as a sapper, before being seconded to the Royal Flying Corps soon after its formation on 13 April 1912, serving as an Air Mechanic in No. 3 Squadron RFC from 13 May.[2] Strugnell trained as a pilot, and was granted Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate No. 253 on 24 July 1912, after a soloing a Bristol biplane at the Army School on Salisbury Plain,[3] being the third non-commissioned officer in the British military to receive a pilot's license. He later served in No. 5 Squadron RFC.
On 27 June 1915 Strugnell, then a sergeant, was appointed a flying officer and commissioned as a second lieutenant for service in the field. He was posted to No. 1 Squadron RFC, and on 5 February 1916, piloted a Morane-Saulnier L that drove down an Aviatik C.I reconnaissance aircraft for his first victory.[1] Soon after, on 12 February 1916, he was appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain.
Strugnell served as a flight commander in No. 43 Squadron RFC, from its formation at Stirling on 15 April 1916.[4] On 3 June 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross "for Distinguished Service in the Field".
Strugnell spent some time on instruction duty before returning to action flying a Sopwith Pup in No. 54 Squadron RFC as flight commander of "A" Flight. On 19 March 1917, he shared in the setting on fire of a German reconnaissance aircraft. On 14 April and 1 May, he sent another reconnaissance aircraft and an Albatros D.III down out of control. On 11 May 1917, he shared in the destruction of another reconnaissance aircraft, and soon after single-handedly destroyed an Albatros D.III.[1]
On 24 July 1917 his award of a Bar to his Military Cross was gazetted. His citation read:
Lieutenant (temporary Captain) William Victor Strugnell, MC, Hampshire Regiment and Royal Flying Corps.
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While leading an offensive patrol he attacked and brought down a hostile machine. Later, in the same patrol, he brought down a second machine. In all he has accounted for five machines and a kite balloon."
On 1 September 1917 Strugnell was appointed a squadron commander with the acting rank of major.
| +Combat record | ||||||
| No. | Date/Time | Aircraft/ Serial No. | Opponent | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Squadron RFC | ||||||
| 1 | 5 February 1916 @ 1120 | Morane-Saulnier L (5068) | Out of control | |||
| No. 54 Squadron RFC | ||||||
| 2 | 19 March 1917 @ 0745 | Type C (reconnaissance aircraft) | Destroyed in flames | Shared with Lieutenant E. J. Y. Grevelink | ||
| 3 | 14 April 1917 @ 0815 | Sopwith Pup (A7306) | Type C | Out of control | ||
| 4 | 1 May 1917 @ 0710 | Sopwith Pup (A7306) | Albatros D.III | Out of control | ||
| 5 | 11 May 1917 @ 1840 | Sopwith Pup (A6168) | Type C | Destroyed | Shared with Major C. E. Sutcliffe, and Lieutenants Maurice Scott, Oliver Sutton, E. J. Y. Grevelink & M. B. Cole. | |
| 6 | 11 May 1917 @ 1910 | Sopwith Pup (A6168) | Albatros D.III | Destroyed | ||
On 1 August 1919 Strugnell was granted a permanent commission in the RAF with the rank of major (squadron leader). He was posted to No. 1 Flying Training School (Inland Area), before being briefly attached the School of Military Administration at Chiseldon from 23 September[5] to 1 November 1921, after which he was assigned to the RAF Depot (Inland Area) as a supernumerary officer.[6]
On 14 September 1922 he was posted to the RAF Aircraft Depot in Iraq,[7] transferring to the Engine Repair Depot, Egypt, on 18 October 1924,[8] before eventually returning to the UK when posted to the RAF Depot, Uxbridge, on his transfer to the Home Establishment on 9 May 1926.[9] From 1 September 1926 Strugnell served at the headquarters of No. 21 (Training) Group at RAF West Drayton.[10]
On 1 July 1928 he was promoted to wing commander, and on 1 September was appointed Officer Commanding of No. 9 Squadron, based at RAF Manston,[11] forming part of No. 51 (Night Bomber) Wing. In August 1930 the Vickers Virginia bombers of No. 51 Wing formed part of the "Blue" forces in the annual RAF Exercises.[12] On 10 January 1931 Strugnell was posted to the Home Aircraft Depot at RAF Henlow for administrative duties.[13]
He was promoted to group captain on 3 July 1934, returning to the Middle East to serve as commander of No. 1 Armoured Car Company at RAF Hinaidi, Iraq, until 19 February 1935.[14] He then commanded the Reception Depot at West Drayton from 3 April 1935,[15] and was station commander of RAF Manston from 10 August 1935.[16]
Strugnell served throughout the Second World War. He was a station commander in Algeria in 1943,[17] and received a mention in despatches on 8 June 1944. He retired from the RAF on 7 June 1945, only a month after the end of the war on Europe.
On 12 February 1951, he was commissioned as a flight lieutenant (Class J) in the Royal Air Force Reserve of Officers, relinquishing his commission exactly eight years later on 12 February 1959.
. Norman Franks . Sopwith Pup Aces of World War I . Oxford, UK . . 2005 . 978-1-84176-886-1.