William Yetton "Casablanca Directive"

William Charles  Yetton

Sergeant Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 50 Sqdn.

Service Number: 1322153

Died 1st March, 1943, age 34 years

Buried in a collective grave with his flight crew at  Wadenoijen Protestant Churchyard, Netherlands, Plot 1. Row A. Coll. grave 1.

Husband of Edna, Son of William and Georgina Yetton

58 Glenhurst Villas, Friern Barnet, Hertfordshire.

When World War II broke out, William, a former Bank officer, joined the military like many men of his generation. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR), where his previous flying experience would prove valuable. Despite having a pilot's license, William was assigned as a Navigator/Bomb Aimer, a critical role in bomber operations.

William was posted to No. 50 Squadron RAF from No. 1660 Conversion Unit in December 1942. No. 50 Squadron was part of 5 Group, Bomber Command, operated from RAF Skellingthorpe near Lincoln. 

The period of William's service coincided with a critical phase of the Allied bombing campaign. In January 1943, the combined Allied leadership at the Casablanca Conference issued what became known as the "Casablanca Directive," formalising the policy of round-the-clock bombing of German targets. This directive intensified Bomber Command's already dangerous operations.

During his brief time with No. 50 Squadron, William participated in numerous bombing operations targeting strategic locations across German-occupied Europe. The squadron's operational record books document raids on targets including Berlin, Turin, Lorient, Wilhelmshaven, and Bremen between January and March 1943. These missions were extremely hazardous, with bomber crews facing dangers from German night fighters, anti-aircraft fire, and challenging weather conditions.

William served aboard the Avro Lancaster, one of World War II's most capable heavy bombers. As Navigator/Bomb Aimer, William would have split his duties between plotting the aircraft's course to and from the target and operating the bombsight during the actual bombing run. This dual role was crucial to mission success, requiring precision, quick thinking, and coolness under fire.

The night of March 1-2, 1943, saw No. 50 Squadron participate in a bombing raid on Berlin, the heavily defended capital of Nazi Germany. William was serving as Navigator/Bomb Aimer aboard Lancaster III ED592, which carried the squadron markings VN-B.

At 19:01 on March 1, 1943, Lancaster ED592 and other squadron aircraft took off from RAF Skellingthorpe. The mission was part of the broader Allied bombing campaign against key German cities. The night featured 26% moon illumination, providing visibility and exposing the bombers to enemy defences.