William volunteered for service in the RAF on the outbreak of war. He soon qualified as a wireless operator/air gunner serving with 115 Squadron operating from RAF Marham, Norfolk, flying the twin-engine Vickers Wellington Bomber in which he undertook a number of operational flights.

On 30^th May 1942 Wellington III Z1614 [KO-R] took off at 23:59 hrs for participation in the first 1,000 bomber raid of the war targeting Cologne, Germany, with five aircrew on board including William. At 01:57 hrs on Sunday 31^st May his aircraft was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf 110 D-3 night fighter crewed by Oberleutnant Barte & Unteroffizier Pieper of the 4./NJG 1. The aircraft crashed at Wijchmaal, Belgium with the loss of all on board.

At the time of his death William was 24 years of age and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Englefield Green, Surrey.

Son of William Arnott McLeod & Agnes Lawson McLeod, Edinburgh, Scotland.

A copy of this story is available for download here.

See also the Commonwealth War Graves Commission permanent digital memorial, ‘Evermore: Stories of the fallen’  relating to:- Sergeant William Arnott McLEOD