ISOB William 'Billy' Fiske
Details:
A Commonwealth Grave Commission cemetery, Boxgrove (St. Mary and St. Blaise) Churchyard, grave location Sec. F. Grave 2. Isolated Burial
A standard Commonwealth Grave Commission (CWGC) inscribed gravestone.
A bit about Fiske: William Meade Lindsley Fiske III (4 June 1911 – 17 August 1940) was the 1928 and 1932 Olympic champion bobsled driver and, following Jimmy Davies, was one of the first American pilots killed in action in World War II. At the time Fiske was serving in the Royal Air Force (RAF). He was one of 11 American pilots who flew with RAF Fighter Command between 10 July and 31 October 1940, thereby qualifying for the Battle of Britain clasp to the 1939–45 campaign star fighting in the “Battle of Britain”.
Between his Olympic career and his military service, Fiske was instrumental in the early development of the Aspen ski resort. Fiske and his partner built the first ski lift and lodge in the remote Colorado mountain town.
From the CWGC Website about Fiske:
PILOT OFFICER
WILLIAM MEAD LINDSLEY FISKE
Service Number: 78092
Regiment & Unit:
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
601 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 18 August 1940
Awards: Mentioned in Despatches
Additional Info: Born in the U.S.A. One of only two Americans who died in the Battle of Britain. On 4th July, 1941 the Secretary of State for Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair, unveiled a Memorial Plaque to Fiske, in the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral. .
See this website William “Billy” Fiske III Stained Glass – Battle of Britain Memorial and William “BILLY” Fiske III – Battle of Britain Plaque in St. Paul Cathedral for more on Fiske.
Monument Text:
The text on the gravestone is written in English and reads:
Pilot Officer
W.M.L FISKE III
BORN IN CHICAGO
JUNE 4, 1911
KILLED IN ACTION
AUGUST 17, 194O
He died for England
(Names of his parents and their birth and death dates below)