75 Squadron Pilot, sir name..."Pilet!" (William Henry)

[gregvhill]

Greetings from the USA,

I know a man here in the states who is a grandson of a former 75 Squadron pilot named William Henry Pilet. He and Mr. Pilet's great granddaughters here in the states would like to know more about their progenitor's service in the RNZAF during the Second World War.

Personally, I am a history teacher who knows a fair amount about the period and am specifically interested in World War II aviation history. I told the gentleman that I knew that the RNZAF took a disproportionate number of casualties in the war compared with the other allied airforces and that his grandfather was undoubtedly a brave man. So far, however, I have been unable to contribute  any specific information on Mr. Pilet.

Following is what seems to be known:    

My friend's sister, whom I believe currently lives in New Zealand, relayed this information to him: She didn't say what rank(s) Mr. Pilet held but that he was with the, "75th Squadron flying raids into Europe out of Egypt. Later he joined 142 Squadron made up of Brits, New Zealanders, Aussies, etc."

If some of this information is erroneous I apologize but it was relayed to me,verbally, through several people and so it is certainly susceptible to error.

Any information on Mr. Pilet's experience from those who knew of him, have reports or narratives that mention him or who are versed in the history of either 75 or 142 Squadron would be greatly appreciated!

Best Regards,

Greg V. Hill

Sacramento, CA
 
             

[angelsonefive]

From burial records :

" William Henry Pilet died 5 August, 1988, aged 74 years.
Farmer, address Marton, Rangitikei, New Zealand.
Husband of Marjorie Nita Pilet died 9 September, 2010.

Royal New Zealand Air Force, World War Two."

Rank Flight Lieutenant.

Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross when with 142 Squadron, RAF. His rank at that time was Pilot Officer.

75 (NZ) Squadron never operated from North Africa as far as I know, but 142 Squadron did, operating Vickers Wellington twin-engine medium bombers from Algeria initially, on night bombing raids.

[Dave Homewood]

I don't believe Pilet was ever on No. 75 (NZ) Squadron. He's not on the squadron's roll.

RAF Wellington bomber Squadrons in North Africa were"
No. 37 Squadron RAF
No. 38 Squadron RAF
No. 40 Squadron RAF
No. 70 Squadron RAF
No. 104 Squadron RAF
No. 148 Squadron RAF

[angelsonefive]

Dave,

142 Sqdn was based in North Africa from December 1942 to December 1943.
In that time frame they operated Wellington Marks III and X.

www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/142_wwII.html

[gregvhill]

Thank you for these wonderful responses. I understand that 75 Squadron began as a flight. Is it possible that Pilet could have been with 75 "Flight" before it was affiliated as a squadron and that those rosters are separate? I'm not sure where the family would have gotten "75 Squadron" otherwise.

[Dave Homewood]

No. 75 Squadron was an RAF Squadron totally unconnected with the RNZAF, flying Hendon bombers I believe but it disbanded in early 1939 or thereabouts.

When the RNZAF sent a team of pilots and ground-staff to England to train up on the Wellington in preparation to bring them back to New Zealand, they formed The New Zealand Squadron. They never got to full squadron strength till after war had begun and the Wellingtons had been sold back to Britain. When the NZ Government offered the British our 30 ordered Wellingtons they also offered those trained staff who were there (many of whom were actually kiwis who were serving with the RAF, like Feed "Popeye" Lucas). So after September 1939 the squadron built up and eventually was given an RAF squadron number to please the RAF bean counters, but with the special designation of (NZ) in the title, becoming No. 75 (NZ) Squadron RAF on the 1st of April 1940.

Contrary to many books and articles it was never known as The New Zealand Flight officially. And it was not absorbed into an existing No. 75 Squadron as it has been disbanded and reformed to give the kiwi squadron an identity.

[Dave Homewood]

Oh and no, he was not a member of The New Zealand Squadron, pre-renaming the squadron.

[ErrolC]

As 75 (NZ) Sqn was a Wellington squadron with NZ aircrew, a mis-understanding on the part of the family is understandable.

Sent via Proboards Android App

[McFly]

A snippet on "Pilet' from the Official History "New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Volume III)" - CHAPTER 7 — Sicily.

Night by night New Zealand aircrew with RAF Wellington squadrons flew out from their Tunisian bases and crossed the Mediterranean to play their part in attacks against Pantellaria and enemy ports, communications and airfields in Sardinia, Sicily and southern Italy. Three outstanding pilots were Wing Commander D. R. Bagnall, who continued his successful command of No. 40 Squadron, Squadron Leader H. H. Beale of No. 37 Squadron and Squadron Leader C. L. G. Holmes of No. 150 Squadron, who flew as flight commanders. Captains of aircraft who flew many missions were Flight Lieutenant E. P. Towsey, a veteran of bomber operations over Germany who had also served with Coastal Command, Flight Sergeants Pilet (1), Turvey and R. E. Stowers. Flying Officer Read rendered good service as gunner and Flying Officer Masters as bomb-aimer. Also operating at this time were Flight Sergeants N. Gustofson and Judd as pilots, Warrant Officer B. Johnston and Flight Sergeant McKay as navigators, and Flight Sergeant McPhail, wireless operator.

The fine offensive spirit displayed by the bomber crews is well illustrated by the action of the young Wellington pilot, Flight Sergeant Pilet, during one sortie to Milo airfield in Sardinia. On this night the weather was atrocious but Pilet flew on to find and bomb his target. On the way back to Tunisia, conditions became even worse but he succeeded in landing at base while most squadron crews were compelled to find other airfields where the weather was better.

1. Flight Lieutenant W. H. Pilet, DFC; born Christchurch, 10 Jun 1914; dairy farmer; joined RNZAF 27 Jul 1941.

nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-3RAF-c7.html

Pilet's headstone

[errolmartyn]

From Colin Hanson’s By Such Deeds Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force 1923-1999


PILET, Flight Lieutenant William Henry, DFC.
NZ414338; Born Christchurch, 10 Jun 1914; RNZAF 27 Jul 1941 to 11 Jun 1945; Pilot.
Citation Distinguished Flying Cross (29 Nov 1943): [142 Sqn RAF (Wellington)] Pilot Officer Pilet is a gallant and skilful captain of aircraft whose fine fighting spirit has been an inspiration to his crew. On one occasion he and his crew located and bombed Mile airfield in Sardinia despite most adverse weather. On the return journey, the weather deteriorated still further but did not deter Pilot Officer Pilet from making a successful landing at base. This officer has always shown skill and determination in the handling of his aircraft and crew and has always pressed home his attacks despite the heaviest opposition.
Following a tour of 42 sorties with 142 Sqn Flight Lieutenant Pilet instructed on 11 OTU RAF (Wellington). Died Marton, 5 Aug 1988.

Errol

PS: Of course at one stage of his career he was Pilot Officer Pilet!

[gregvhill]

Messrs "Angels,"Homewood,ErrolC,McFly & Martyn:

I really appreciate the time you have taken to illuminate this important aspect of history and am quit humbled by the obvious authority with which you speak on this facet of aviation history and on my specific question about Mr.Pilet.

I have emailed my friend to ask him if his sister has any documentation that might indicate some relationship with Pilet to 75 Squadron. Not that anyone's heart will be broken if he wasn't somehow involved with them in his career but if he was with them at some point it might be good to know in what capacity or if the extant record could in anyway be incomplete. I'll let you know if they do or do not have anything on it.

Has anyone ever written a history of 142 Squadron's early years "in the Med" before it converted to Mosquitoes or is there any other book that would talk at any length about the squadron's history?

Best Regards,

Greg Hill

[Dave Homewood]

If they have his Flying Logbook, inside the back cover should be a record of all the units he served on from joining to demob, in chronological order and with dates served. That will reveal all the squadrons he served on.

[gregvhill]

Thanks Mr. Homewood,

I'll relay that. Are there any extant and generally available recommended books on 142 Squadron?
Any books that cover the squadron's activities?


Best regards,

Greg Hill

[McFly]

Aug 8, 2014 8:15:37 GMT 12 gregvhill said:

Thanks Mr. Homewood,

I'll relay that. Are there any extant and generally available recommended books on 142 Squadron?
Any books that cover the squadron's activities?


Best regards,

Greg Hill

There is a link Here to a website which honours a Wellington (HZ474 QT-R) crew from 142 Squadron that was lost in a raid. In the intro blurb, a reference is made to a researcher who is writing a history on 142 Sqn. Perhaps making contact with some of the folk there might help with further 142 Sqn information?

Aye

[pfs]

Hi Greg,

Please get in touch so I can send you my email address and I am happy to provide you a lot of information regarding Pilet's service at 142 Squadron.

Regards - Pieter

[oggie2620]

Aug 7, 2014 12:09:26 GMT 12 gregvhill said:

Messrs "Angels,"Homewood,ErrolC,McFly & Martyn:

I really appreciate the time you have taken to illuminate this important aspect of history and am quit humbled by the obvious authority with which you speak on this facet of aviation history and on my specific question about Mr.Pilet.

I have emailed my friend to ask him if his sister has any documentation that might indicate some relationship with Pilet to 75 Squadron. Not that anyone's heart will be broken if he wasn't somehow involved with them in his career but if he was with them at some point it might be good to know in what capacity or if the extant record could in anyway be incomplete. I'll let you know if they do or do not have anything on it.

Has anyone ever written a history of 142 Squadron's early years "in the Med" before it converted to Mosquitoes or is there any other book that would talk at any length about the squadron's history?

Best Regards,

Greg Hill

Hi Greg
She may want to join the 75 Sqn Assn based in New Zealand. If she is interested if she goes to www.75squadron-raf-rnzaf.com then I am sure they would love to hear from her. Glen would love to see any pictures as would the UK Friends of 75 (NZ) Sqn Assn
Regards
Dee

[philosoraptor]

Dec 31, 2014 0:28:14 GMT 12 pfs said:

Hi Greg,

Please get in touch so I can send you my email address and I am happy to provide you a lot of information regarding Pilet's service at 142 Squadron.

Regards - Pieter

Hi Pieter
I am a NZ resident and William Henry Pilet was my great uncle.
I would love to know more about his history in the RAF also and would appreciate any significant information you or anyone in this forum may be able to provide.

regards 

Chris H.

[jules]

I have a copy of Dad's Flying log in PDF form but don't know to put it on to this page as yet.
It mentions Squadron 142.
Regards,   Julie

[Dave Homewood]

Hi Julie, it isn't easy to put a pdf here on the forum I'm afraid. It will have to be hosted on a different site and linked to here.

[jules]

Aug 16, 2021 14:22:40 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Hi Julie, it isn't easy to put a pdf here on the forum I'm afraid. It will have to be hosted on a different site and linked to here.

Thankyou Dave. I will check with my children about how to do that. Many thanks for your prompt reply. Cheers,   Julie