Bill joined up at 18 and went to gunnery school. Was based at Myrtle Beach, Florida, then Salt Lake City, Utah and then Topeka, Kansas. From there his unit flew in B-24s to Canada and then over to Northern Ireland. Then they travelled to England by ferry.

Bill was a flight engineer/ gunner but he also flew as a tail gunner in the lead ship. This meant that rather than sticking with one or two aircraft, they flew in any ship that had radar equipment fitted.

He was with the 458th Bomb Group for 8 missions and then transferred to the 44th BG for radar training. He then transferred to the 466th BG and flew 20 missions with that group.

Bill was hit by flak and was in the hospital for about a month. He was told he just had to wait for the shrapnel to work itself out. So finished his 27 missions in November 1944. Then sent home in February 1945. Went to Atlantic City for classes and then went to a convalescent hospital in Plattsburgh, New York. After a few months the surgeons removed the remaining shrapnel. This was in July 1945. They discharged him later that month.

After the war, Bill worked for General Electrics in jet engine development in Massachusetts.

In 2001 and 2012 Bill returned to England. He says that he loves the fish and chips over there and visiting Edinburgh.