William J. Murphy (RAF officer)

William J. Murphy (RAF Pilot)

William J. Murphy (1916 – 1939) was the first RAF pilot to be shot down and killed during World War 2.

Background

William J. Murphy was born in Mitchelstown, County Cork in the Republic of Ireland to William Joseph Murphy and Katherine C. Murphy.

World War 2

Murphy was the officer pilot of flight N6188 OM, a Bristol Blenheim Bomber, part of 107 Squadron, which was taking part in the RAF's first bombing raid of the war against enemy ships in the German port of Wilhelmshaven on 4 September 1939, the day after war was declared on Germany. A navigator on another plane that day was Larry Slattery from Thurles in County Tipperary, who survived along with another officer, Sergeant G. F. Booth, who became the first POWs of WW2 and also the longest serving British POWs of WW2.

Fifteen Blenheim medium bombers of 107 and 110 Squadrons flew a mission to attack German ships. Several planes had to return to base having failed to find their target. Of the five remaining planes of 107 Squadron, four were shot down over Wilhelmshaven. Murphy was killed alongside two fellow crewmen, Sergeant L R Ward and AC2 E Patemam.

William J. Murphy was buried in Sage War Cemetery, Germany.