Uploaded March 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
WING COMMANDER ‘BILL’ LANDER – “A FIRST CLASS OFFICER”.
Wing Commander ‘Bill’ Lander was the Officer Commanding 1307 Wing HQ RAF Regiment, and it was his responsibility to coordinate the actions of the RAF Regiment squadrons and flights (2708 Field Sqn to defend the airstrip, two flights 2963 LAA Sqn to protect 17 (Spitfire) Sqn, and one flight 2941 Field Sqn and one flight 2968 Field Sqn to protect two radar stations) that were deployed to Meiktila.
Lander had arrived at the airstrip by air with the first flights of the RAF Regiment. He was to be constant source of inspiring leadership throughout the siege. Despite the airfield being under incessant shelling and subject to night attacks by Japanese ‘jitter’ parties. Lander took a ‘grip’ of the situation and deployed his flights, often leading night patrols or the daily forays out onto the strip.
Unfortunately, while leading a patrol on 24 March, he and his runner, LAC Dakers, were killed by sniper fire. While there was no shortage of Regiment volunteers to bring in his and Dakers’ bodies, it was four days before they could be recovered.
WING COMMANDER ‘BILL’ LANDER – “A FIRST CLASS OFFICER”.
Wing Commander ‘Bill’ Lander was the Officer Commanding 1307 Wing HQ RAF Regiment, and it was his responsibility to coordinate the actions of the RAF Regiment squadrons and flights (2708 Field Sqn to defend the airstrip, two flights 2963 LAA Sqn to protect 17 (Spitfire) Sqn, and one flight 2941 Field Sqn and one flight 2968 Field Sqn to protect two radar stations) that were deployed to Meiktila.
Lander had arrived at the airstrip by air with the first flights of the RAF Regiment. He was to be constant source of inspiring leadership throughout the siege. Despite the airfield being under incessant shelling and subject to night attacks by Japanese ‘jitter’ parties. Lander took a ‘grip’ of the situation and deployed his flights, often leading night patrols or the daily forays out onto the strip.
Unfortunately, while leading a patrol on 24 March, he and his runner, LAC Dakers, were killed by sniper fire. While there was no shortage of Regiment volunteers to bring in his and Dakers’ bodies, it was four days before they could be recovered.
