David W Willetts | ParaData

David William Willetts was born in 1919 and enlisted into The Welch Regiment.

He volunteered for airborne forces in November 1942. After the selection process, carried out at the Depot School and Airborne Forces at Hardwick Hall near Chesterfield in Derbyshire he was sent on parachute course 40 at RAF Ringway which ran from 23 November to 11 December 1942. The course instructors’ report states: ‘Cpl Willetts-Very good standards attained. Good Leader.’

Corporal Willetts was then posted to The 6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion and went to North Africa and later took part in the amphibious landings into Italy in September 1943.

Acting Sergeant Willetts was Mention in Despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.

Sergeant Willetts saw active service in the South of France, Greece and Palestine.

He was demobbed in May 1946.

By Wendy George

1942
6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion (Sergeant)

Operations

Event

Greece (Operation Manna)

One company of the 4th Para Battalion was dropped in high winds at Megara airfield 40 miles from Athens suffering numerous casualties.

Event

Italy

The Italians had capitulated while the force was still at sea. The sinking of HMS Abdiel by a mine in the harbour, however, resulted in the loss of 130 soldiers from 6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion including their Commanding Officer.

Event

North Africa (Operation Torch)

On 12 November the 3rd Parachute Battalion (3 Para Bn) jumped onto and seized the vital airfield at Bone between Algiers and Tunis, arriving barely before German paratroopers deployed for the same mission.

Event

Palestine

Arab intransigence over the surge of Jewish immigration that followed the Holocaust in Europe led to the forming of extreme dissident Zionist groups such as IZL (Irgun Zwai Leumi) and the Stern Gang, all seeking to promote their aims through violence.

Event

South France (Operation Dragoon)

The airborne assault was mounted alongside five US Parachute Battalions and one US Air Landing Brigade. The 51st US Troop Carrier Wing provided the lift for what was essentially an American-heavy operation.

Decorations

MiD

1943

Photos_1

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Pte 'Bill' Willetts and Cpl 'Bob' Struthers, date unknown.

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Group photos_2

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Sergeants of the 6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion, date unknown.

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Sgts of the 6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion, date unknown.

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Sergeant David W Willetts

{ Bill }

23 Jan 1919 - 16 Feb 2012

Service History