First World War Ace Heads Oxford Wing

Thomas F. Williams, a First World War Ace with a record of 13 enemy aircraft destroyed, is the new president of 440 Wing in Woodstock, Ontario. He succeeds Derwent Underhill, the charter president who served for two terms and led the Wing in its formation. Other members of the new executive are Robert Garbutt, Gerald Dunlop, William Moreland, Mary Mark, and James Weir. “Tom” Williams is a well-known pilot whose flying career began in the First World War. He went overseas with the 1st Canadian Contingent in September, 1914 and served 24 months in France before discharge to a commission in the Royal Flying Corps. He was back in France in September 1917 and in eleven months on the lines flew 196 patrols and escorting missions, destroyed thirteen enemy aircraft, and was decorated with the Military Cross and the Valorie Militaire (Italian). He was shot down three times but never long out of action. He was demobilized in September 1919 with the rank of Captain. Between wars he obtained his commercial, air engineer’s and flying instructor licenses. He licensed part of his farm as a private commercial airport and embarked on flying instruction and barnstorming. Later he became chief flying instructor at Kitchener-Waterloo and London until 1937 when he joined Skylines Express and flew on services to northern areas from both Winnipeg and Toronto. From 1939 to 1948 he was Chief Test Pilot of the Fleet Aircraft Company. He is still listed as an aircraft owner and pilot and was pronounced “Fit A3” on his last medical examination in October 1959. 440 Oxford Wing, guided in its first two years by a very capable President in `Der’ Underhill, is fortunate to have as his successor ‘Tom’ Williams, a pilot with a most distinguished record in war and peace.

From Wings at Home, February 1960