Willmott, Bernard Bruce, son of Harry Russell Willmott, gen. man. I. of Wight Rly; b. 27 Aug. 1918; adm. Sept. 1929 (R); left Dec. 1932; FO RAF Dec. 1938, Flt Lieut. Sept. 1940, temp. Sqdn Ldr Sept. 1941; transf. RAFVR June 1942, temp. Wing Cdr July 1944; killed in action 26 Aug. 1944.
Bernard Bruce Willmott was born at Newport, Isle of Wight on the 27th August 1915 the son of Harry Russell Willmott, an engineer and manager of a railway company, and Ethel Lucy (nee Hewlett) Willmott of St Nicholas, Newport. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1929 to December 1932.
He was granted a short service commission as an Acting Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force on the 29th of June 1936. He was confirmed in his rank on the 4th of May 1937, which became effective on the 2nd of June 1937 and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 8th of December 1938. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 3rd of September 1940 and to Squadron Leader on the 1st of September 1941. He was posted to 36 Squadron based at Singapore.
At 9.30am on the 26th of January 1942, a Hudson reconnaissance aircraft spotted two Japanese cruisers, eleven destroyers and two 10,000 ton vessels surrounded by barges some 10 miles off Endau and heading towards the coast. The Royal Air Force was despatched to try to stem their advance and at 1pm 6 aircraft from 100 Squadron and 3 from 36 Squadron, escorted by 8 Hurricanes and 15 Buffalo fighters, attacked the Japanese transports and landing craft off the small port in cloudy conditions. In spite of the attentions of Japanese Zero fighters they pressed home their attack, losing five of their number.
At 3pm plans were made for the attack to be repeated by 9 Vildebeest and 3 Albacore aircraft from three different squadrons including 36 Squadron with each aircraft being loaded with six 250lb bombs; the bombers having been ordered to carry bombs as it was felt that the water was too shallow to use torpedoes. They were escorted by 4 Buffaloes and 8 Hurricanes and by this time the weather had cleared.
Bruce Willmott and his crew took off from RAF Seletar in Vildebeest Mk III K4188 for the operation. During the attack the aircraft was seen to be flying at low level while attacking enemy vessels at the mouth of the River Mersin. It was shot down by an enemy fighter and was seen to be going down in flames before being lost to sight.
The fighters’ fire had killed the observer and the air gunner and had wounded Bruce Willmott in the right foot. The aircraft became out of control and he was forced to bale out and land in the sea where he was picked up by the destroyer HMS Thanet.
In a statement written on his release from prisoner of war camp in 1945, Warrant Officer Ivor Raymond Jones reported that: - “In the Endau operation on 26 January 1942, my aircraft was flying next to that of Sergeant Hay. As we peeled off, I saw Hay’s aircraft hit in the petrol tank. It was diving to the deck with a fine spray coming out of the petrol tank. I lost sight of the aircraft after that.”
The crew was: -
Flight Sergeant George Ewen (RCAF) (Observer)
Sergeant Phillip Carlisle Hay RAAF (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Squadron Leader Bernard Bruce Willmott (Pilot) (Evaded)
His mother received the following telegram dated the 2nd of February 1942: - “Regret to inform you that your son Temporary Squadron Leader Bernard Bruce Willmott is reported missing as the result of air operations on 26th January 1942. All possible enquiries will be made and any information received will be communicated to you immediately. Should news of him reach you from any source please advise this department.”
6 Vildebeests and 2 Albacores had been shot down during the engagement with others being damaged and some of their crews wounded. The attacking force claimed to have sunk one enemy cruiser and two destroyers as well as hitting the transport ships of which one was set on fire. Casualties were caused among the Japanese troops both in their barges and on the beach. The enemy fighter escort had also suffered, losing twelve “Zeros” and with four more being damaged for the loss of two Hurricanes and one of the Buffaloes.
He was admitted to Alexandria Hospital at Singapore and was evacuated from the island on board the SS Empire Star during the first week of February. He was landed at Batavia from where he returned to England on board a hospital ship.
Small pieces of the wreckage and a Browning machine gun from his Vildebeest were found by an army search party in June 1946, about two miles into the jungle from the eight mile point of the Endau to Mersing Road. The bodies of his two crewmen were not found.
He transferred to the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 2nd of June 1942.
He was married in Wales in 1943 to Marjorie (nee Penny) of “Homefield”, Brighstone on the Isle of Wight.
He was promoted to Wing Commander on the 1st of July 1944.
On the 26th of August 1944, 143 Squadron made eight attacks on enemy E-Boats and other shipping at Boulogne and in the Le Touquet area causing significant damage. The operation was codenamed “Operation Swingate”.
Bruce Willmott and his Observer, Pilot Flying Officer William Snowden, took off at 11.15pm that night in Beaufighter TFX NE772 as one of eleven aircraft from the Squadron for the operation. They were seen to make an attack on enemy shipping but failed to return and their fate is unknown.
His was one of two aircraft that were lost during the operation.
The Vice Admiral commanding Dover wrote to the Squadron the next day: - “A considerable number of E Boats were out during the night, but thanks to the efficient air effort none got through to our convoys. None even made contact with the protecting forces. The E Boats were so well plastered they abandoned the job!”
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 200.
