Wg.Cdr. William Mitchell Penman DFC AFC

William Mitchell Penman was born on 12th May 1917 and was educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh.

He entered the RAF in 1935 and was commisioned acting pilot officer. He served

19th Fighter Squadron Duxford

 August 1936 - July 1937

No 801 Fleet Fighter Squadron (aboard HMS Furious)

August 1937 April 1938

Flying Instructor No.1 S.F.T.S. Netheravon

May 1938 - January 1940

Camp Borden Ontario

January - July 1940

Jarvis Ontario

August - October 1940

Mossbank Saskatchewan Armament Training Squadron

No.2 Bombing School

October 1940 - October 1942 when he returned to England.

After further training, he joined 61 squadron in February 1943 as CO RAF Syerston until his loss  in action during the night of 3/4th October 1943 over Kassel.

He was awarded the AFC in 1942 in recognition of his valuable services to flying instruction whilst attached to the RCAF, and gained the DFC after completing two missions regardless of the fact that his gun turrets had failed, and on another occasion an engine failed but he successfully bombed the target and brought his aircraft and crew home safely.

He shared RAF Syerston with Guy Gibson, then O.C 106 Squadron and they took part in many operations together.

Wing Commander Penman was also a keen rugby football player. He captained the RAF team and played for Scotland as full back in many national and international games.

 Kassel 3/4th October 1943

This operation became the most destructive since that on Hamburg with it's resultant fire storm. Many industrial buildings were destroyed including facilities that were used to build the V1 flying bomb. Unfortunately, the enemy had been successful in directing 200 night fighters into the bomber stream, and of the 569 sorties flown 43 aircraft failed to return.

Of the 15 sorties flown from RAF Syerston, 3 Lancasters were lost.

ED 630

W4357 QR-A

W4279 QR-Z "Zebra"

W4279 QR-Z was piloted by Wing Commander Penman and his crew were :-

P/O K.J Stephenson (Flt/Eng.)

F/L E.W Mitchell (Navigator)

F/L D.L Thomson (Bomb Aimer)

F/L D.I Wilkinson (W/T op. Air Gunner)

F/O M.R Braines (Air Gunner 1)

P/O Maurice Root-Reed (Air Gunner 2)

                                                    Sadly, there were no survivors.  

Wing Commander Penman left a wife and 10 month old daughter Susan.

Susan, seen on left, has served as the Associations Dining Secretary and stood down in 2008

Above:: Front Row, L to R. Patricia Townsend, Susan and David Jellett, Jamie Barr DFC.