- William Arthur “Bill” Fisher, Bermondsey, RAF’s secret Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU), WW1.
William Arthur “Bill” Fisher was one of four young men from Southwark who joined the RAF’s secret Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU), who flew behind enemy lines in unarmoured Spitfires to snap clandestine photos of Nazi operators.
Southwark Four’- Frederick Legon, William Fisher, Frederick James and Lesley Baker, who all served in the PRU. The boys were from Walworth, Bermondsey and Blackfriars.
YWilliam Arthur Fisher was born in Bermondsey, the son of Arthur and Phyllis Fisher. Brenda explains that Bill grew up at 3 Banyard Road, just off Southwark Park.
Bill had one sister, Brenda’s mother, Connie, born in 1912 and one brother, Edward, born in 1928.
Bill went to Keeton Road school, which would later be used during the Blitz as shelter and was bombed in September 1940. It is currently home to Charter School Bermondsey.
Brenda still has a school report of Bill’s from Keeton Road, which described him as “a most willing and trustworthy pupil showcasing considerable intelligence.”
After leaving Keeton Road School, Bill had an apprenticeship as a photolithographer with Amalgamated Press, which he completed in 1935.
He was selected to train as an RAF Photographer and was posted in Africa and was responsible for the camera operation on the RAF Beau fighter aircraft used in desert conditions.
On 6 April 1942, William and his pilot took off from RAF Maaten Bagush in Egypt for a reconnaissance of Crete.
They were intercepted by Ltn Wilhelm Schieter of 7./JG27 who shot down Williams’ unarmed aircraft with the loss of both crewmen. William is still missing in action to this day a
Frederick Legon:
Frederick Vernon Legon was born in St Olave’s, Bermondsey, the son of Albert and Martha Legon. On April 10, 1944, Fred and his navigator F/o John Swann took off from RAF Benson to photograph Friedrichshafen, a German city on the borders with Austria and Switzerland.
The crew were met by several German fighter planes, which shot down Fred’s unarmed Mosquito. Fred, aged just 24, sadly perished and is buried in Verdun-sur-Meuse.
Frederick James:
Frederick Edward James was born in St. Mary Newington, Southwark, served in the PRU during the war, and is believed to have survived the war – but little is known about his post-war life.
Lesley Baker:
Lesley Bernard Baker was born in Walworth, and is known to have served in the PRU, but little else is currently known about his wartime service, or post-war life.
Four very brave men who risked and gave their lives so we could have the lives we have today.
William Arthur “Bill” Fisher was one of four young men from Southwark who joined the RAF’s secret Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU), who flew behind enemy lines in unarmoured Spitfires to snap clandestine photos of Nazi operators.
Southwark Four’- Frederick Legon, William Fisher, Frederick James and Lesley Baker, who all served in the PRU. The boys were from Walworth, Bermondsey and Blackfriars.
YWilliam Arthur Fisher was born in Bermondsey, the son of Arthur and Phyllis Fisher. Brenda explains that Bill grew up at 3 Banyard Road, just off Southwark Park.
Bill had one sister, Brenda’s mother, Connie, born in 1912 and one brother, Edward, born in 1928.
Bill went to Keeton Road school, which would later be used during the Blitz as shelter and was bombed in September 1940. It is currently home to Charter School Bermondsey.
Brenda still has a school report of Bill’s from Keeton Road, which described him as “a most willing and trustworthy pupil showcasing considerable intelligence.”
After leaving Keeton Road School, Bill had an apprenticeship as a photolithographer with Amalgamated Press, which he completed in 1935.
He was selected to train as an RAF Photographer and was posted in Africa and was responsible for the camera operation on the RAF Beau fighter aircraft used in desert conditions.
On 6 April 1942, William and his pilot took off from RAF Maaten Bagush in Egypt for a reconnaissance of Crete.
They were intercepted by Ltn Wilhelm Schieter of 7./JG27 who shot down Williams’ unarmed aircraft with the loss of both crewmen. William is still missing in action to this day a
Frederick Legon:
Frederick Vernon Legon was born in St Olave’s, Bermondsey, the son of Albert and Martha Legon. On April 10, 1944, Fred and his navigator F/o John Swann took off from RAF Benson to photograph Friedrichshafen, a German city on the borders with Austria and Switzerland.
The crew were met by several German fighter planes, which shot down Fred’s unarmed Mosquito. Fred, aged just 24, sadly perished and is buried in Verdun-sur-Meuse.
Frederick James:
Frederick Edward James was born in St. Mary Newington, Southwark, served in the PRU during the war, and is believed to have survived the war – but little is known about his post-war life.
Lesley Baker:
Lesley Bernard Baker was born in Walworth, and is known to have served in the PRU, but little else is currently known about his wartime service, or post-war life.
Four very brave men who risked their lives so we could have the lives we have today.
