William Reid (VC)

Flight Lieutenant William “Bill” Reid VC

William Reid was born at Baillieston, near Glasgow, on 21 December 1921. The son of a blacksmith, he was educated at Swinton Primary School and Coatbridge Higher Grade School before beginning studies in metallurgy.

Reid applied to join the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War and subsequently entered the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He trained as a pilot in Canada, received his wings and was commissioned as a pilot officer on 19 June 1942. After further training on Airspeed Oxfords and Vickers Wellingtons, his flying ability led to his selection as an instructor. In July 1943, he finally received the operational posting he wanted, converting to the Avro Lancaster before joining No. 61 Squadron at RAF Syerston.

The Düsseldorf mission

On the night of 3 November 1943, Acting Flight Lieutenant Reid was pilot and captain of Lancaster LM360, detailed to attack Düsseldorf.

Shortly after crossing the Dutch coast, the Lancaster was attacked by a Messerschmitt Bf 110 night fighter. Its fire shattered Reid’s windscreen, damaged the rear turret and elevator trimming controls, and disabled the aircraft’s communications system and compasses. Reid was wounded in the head, shoulders and hands but concealed the extent of his injuries and continued towards the target.

A second attack, this time by a Focke-Wulf Fw 190, raked the Lancaster from end to end. The navigator was killed, the wireless operator fatally wounded and the flight engineer wounded in the arm. Reid was wounded again. The mid-upper turret and oxygen system were disabled, leaving the Lancaster crippled and largely defenceless.

Despite the condition of his aircraft and crew, Reid refused to abandon the mission. Having memorized the course, he continued for approximately another 200 miles and reached Düsseldorf about 50 minutes later. The bomb-aimer, isolated by the communications failure, remained unaware of the pilot’s wounds and the casualties elsewhere in the aircraft. Target photographs later confirmed that the bombs were released over the centre of the objective.

Reid then turned for England. Without functioning compasses or a navigator, he steered by the pole star and the moon. The portable oxygen supply eventually ran out, and the intense cold pouring through the shattered windscreen worsened his blood loss. Reid slipped into semi-consciousness, leaving the wounded flight engineer, assisted by the bomb-aimer, to keep the Lancaster airborne.

After the aircraft crossed the North Sea and an airfield was sighted, Reid revived and resumed control. Ground mist obscured the runway lights, while blood from his head wound impaired his vision. Nevertheless, he landed the Lancaster safely at RAF Shipdham, although one leg of its damaged undercarriage collapsed under the aircraft’s weight.

For his extraordinary courage, leadership and devotion to duty, Reid was awarded the Victoria Cross. The award was announced in the London Gazette on 14 December 1943. The citation concluded that:

“His tenacity and devotion to duty were beyond praise.”

Reid received his Victoria Cross from King George VI at Buckingham Palace on 11 June 1944. The full official citation is reproduced by the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association⁠ and in the contemporary medal record summarized by VictoriaCross.org.uk⁠.

No. 617 Squadron and captivity

After recovering from his wounds, Reid joined No. 617 Squadron, the “Dambusters,” then commanded by Wing Commander Leonard Cheshire VC.

On 31 July 1944, Reid captained Lancaster ME557 during a daylight attack on the V-weapon storage site at Rilly-la-Montagne, France. After releasing its 12,000-pound Tallboy bomb, Reid’s Lancaster was struck by bombs released prematurely from another aircraft flying above it. One bomb struck the outer port engine without exploding, while another passed through the fuselage and severed the control cables.

Reid ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft. Initially pinned in his seat as the Lancaster entered a dive, he escaped through the overhead hatch shortly before the aircraft broke apart. He suffered a broken arm upon landing and was captured by a German patrol within an hour. Reid spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner, eventually being held at Stalag III-A near Luckenwalde.

Demobilized in 1946, Reid resumed his education at the University of Glasgow and the West of Scotland Agricultural College. After graduating in 1949, he undertook an agricultural travelling scholarship and later worked as an agricultural adviser. He married Violet Campbell Gallagher in 1952, reportedly having never told her before their marriage that he held the Victoria Cross.

Flight Lieutenant William Reid VC died at Crieff, Perthshire, on 28 November 2001, aged 79. He was buried in Crieff Cemetery.

In November 2009, his complete six-medal group was sold by Spink for a hammer price of £290,000, or £348,000 including the buyer’s premium. It established contemporary auction records for an RAF Victoria Cross, a Second World War Victoria Cross and a Victoria Cross awarded to a British recipient. Spink confirms these figures and records⁠.