Obituary: Bill Wells

* Group Captain Edward Preston "Bill" Wells, Battle of Britain fighter pilot. Died aged 89.

Bill Wells won a Distinguished Service Order and Distinguished Flying Cross and bar, putting him among the most highly decorated New Zealand airmen.

Known to fellow pilots as "Hawkeye" or "The Hawk" because of his remarkable eyesight, Wells was officially credited with shooting down 13 enemy aircraft, plus three probables and 15 damaged.

He was the first pilot to win the Distinguished Flying Cross in 485 (RNZAF) Spitfire Squadron, which he was to command, and the first in the squadron to shoot down a German fighter over France.

He earned a reputation as one of the finest and most aggressive wing leaders of the war, twice commanding the three-squadron Kenley wing in 1942 and 1943, and the Tangmere, Detling and West Malling wings in 1944.

Edward Preston Wells was born in the Waikato at Cambridge in 1916.

Always known as Bill, he went farming for several years after leaving Cambridge High School, then switched to the car business.

Wells, called up the month after war broke out in 1939, learned to fly at New Plymouth and Woodbourne, was commissioned and reached England in 1940 when the Battle of Britain was at its height.

After a conversion course to Spitfires he was quickly posted to 266 Squadron to take part in the battle, then switched to 41 Squadron at Hornchurch, Essex.

The New Zealander scored his first confirmed victory on October 17, 1940, sending an Me 109 into the sea off Boulogne. He was given a second Me 109 as a probable two days before the official end of the battle.

Wells joined the New Zealand 485 Squadron in March 1941 when it was forming and training at Driffield in Yorkshire and was credited with its first success over France on July 5, 1941, getting on to the tail of an Me 109 attacking Stirling bombers and sending it down with one burst.

Wells became something of a legend for coolness in action, calming excited younger pilots. Once, when a newcomer shouted that a Messerschmitt was on their tails, Wells switched on his radio-telephone and said, "It's okay, it's only a Spitfire."

On another occasion when pilots called out that there were 20 enemy to port and another 20 to starboard, Wells snapped, "So what!", switched off his mike and led the wing into action.

In one noted incident Wells was heading for England, at low level and low on petrol, when he was attacked by four Me 109s working together.

Wells faced them coolly and when one of the enemy fighters made a mistake he blasted it, watching the aircraft go down in flames.

Wells stayed in the RAF, leaving in 1960 with the rank of Group Captain. He farmed in Suffolk before retiring to Spain.

Wells married Mary de Bouey, a Dutch woman, in London in August 1943. He returned to England several years ago after her death. He is survived by a son and daughter, both living in England.

- NZPA