26 Facts About William Rolls

William Rolls was credited with the destruction of at least 17 aircraft of the Axis powers.

From Edmonton in London, Rolls joined the RAFVR in 1939.

William Rolls flew extensively during the Battle of Britain and destroyed a number of aircraft.

William Rolls shot down a number of aircraft before being hospitalised and repatriated to the United Kingdom as a consequence of injuries received during the aftermath of a bombing raid.

William Rolls enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in March 1939, training at No 19 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School at Gatwick and qualifying for his pilot's wings four months later.

William Rolls underwent further training, at No 3 Flying Training School in South Cerney and once this was completed in June 1940, he was posted to No 72 Squadron.

William Rolls's Spitfire was damaged in a dogfight the next day, with bullets passing through the cockpit area close to his chest.

William Rolls spent the next several months resting from operational flying and performing instructing duties, firstly at No 58 Operational Training Unit at Grangemouth and then No 61 OTU in Heston.

William Rolls returned to operations in October 1941, being posted to No 122 Squadron, based in Yorkshire.

William Rolls was credited with the probable destruction of an Fw 190.

William Rolls was involved in testing whether a Spitfire could be flown off the deck of an aircraft carrier, HMS Furious; his suggestion of fitting a hydromatic propeller proved crucial to the aircraft's ability to achieve the feat.

William Rolls shot down a Ju 88 early the next morning over Grand Harbour but in the same engagement, the squadron's commander, Wicks, was killed.

William Rolls's aircraft was damaged in the ensuing encounter and one of his pilots, Nigel Park, failed to return.

The next day, William Rolls was flying one of eight aircraft of No 126 Squadron that intercepted around 35 Bf 109s 25 miles out from Malta, breaking up the formation.

William Rolls then patrolled off Filfla and engaged two Bf 109s that he saw diving on Luqa.

William Rolls was repatriated to England for treatment and during his return flight, the Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat on which he was travelling ran out of fuel.

On recovering from his injuries, William Rolls was posted to the Air Ministry where he was involved in publicising the RAF's efforts in the war.

William Rolls gave a number of talks for the "Wings for Victory" fundraising drive.

In late 1944, William Rolls was posted to the Bombing Analysis Unit and his work saw him based in France from June the following year.

William Rolls subsequently spent a period of time attached to the United States Air Evaluation Board.

William Rolls ended the war credited with having shot down 17 aircraft with a share in another aircraft destroyed.

William Rolls is credited with three probably destroyed and two damaged.

Demobilised in January 1946, in civilian life William Rolls worked for the public service, firstly with the Ministry of Works as a film officer.

William Rolls then worked for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, based at the organisation's headquarters in London.

William Rolls retired in September 1975 due to poor health.

William Rolls died in July 1988, having suffered heart trouble for some time.