William Meggitt
| William Geoffrey Meggitt | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1894 Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales |
| Died | 28 January 1927 (aged 32–33) Norbury, London, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1915–1927 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Unit |
Welsh Regiment No. 25 Squadron RFC No. 22 Squadron RFC No. 41 Squadron RAF |
| Awards | Military Cross |
Flight Lieutenant William Geoffrey Meggitt MC (1894 – 28 January 1927) was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.
Meggitt was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) in the 3rd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, on 31 March 1915, and was confirmed in his rank on 2 November. He was later seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, and was appointed a flying officer (observer) on 28 October 1916.
Posted to No. 25 Squadron RFC, flying the F.E.2b two-seater fighter Meggitt gained his first aerial victories on 22 October 1916, destroying two Type D aircraft, the first with Sergeant William Drummond Matheson early in the morning south-west of Seclin, and another in the late afternoon north-west of Lille with Second Lieutenant D. S. Johnson. On 17 November 1916 he took part in the destruction by fire of an enemy aircraft over Vitry, piloted by Captain R. Chadwick, and shared with Second Lieutenant H. Dunlop & Lieutenant Harry Scandrett, Second Lieutenant D. S. Johnson & Lieutenant I. Heald, Second Lieutenant H. L. Chadwick & Second Lieutenant C. J. Butler, Sergeant James Green & Corporal A. G. Bower. On 15 February 1917, with Captain Lancelot Richardson, he drove down out of control a Type C aircraft over Avion.
Meggitt was transferred from the Special Reserve to Regular Army on 31 March 1917, and was also awarded the Military Cross, which was gazetted on 17 April 1917. His citation read:
He then trained as a pilot, and was appointed a flying officer on 8 June 1917. Promoted to lieutenant on 1 July, he was posted to No. 22 Squadron RFC, flying the two-seater Bristol Fighter. He gained his fifth aerial victory on 10 October, destroying an Albatros D.V over Moorslede with observer Air Mechanic 1st Class Arch Whitehouse. The next day, with Captain F. A. Durrad as his observer he drove down another D.V.
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