William Drake

William Drake flew Spitfires with 234 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, defending the southwest of England including the Bristol Channel area. He shot down three enemy aircraft during the battle and was credited with two more probables. Later in the war he flew fighter escort missions over occupied Europe and participated in the air operations supporting the D-Day landings. After the war he settled in Clifton, Bristol, and ran an engineering business. He was a familiar figure at Bristol's Remembrance Day services.