Not to be Read!
“It seems strange and useless that I should have to die for this,” Canadian Spitfire Pilot William Fortt said in a heartfelt letter to his parents 16 months before he died in a fiery plane crash in Essex, England, on 12 April 1942.
Dale Murray donated the military medals of Pilot William (Bill) Fortt, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Bill was the son of Colonel Ronald Fortt, a WW1 veteran out of Vancouver, BC. Bill volunteered just before the outbreak of war in August 1939. The doctor completing Bill’s medical described him as “a fine looking young man… with above average intelligence.” In August 1940, he earned his Pilot’s Flying badge and joined the No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, RAF, in the UK.
The collection includes a rather unusual letter with the markings on the outside, “Not to be Read.” A death letter – to be sent to his parents if he died in action. In the letter, Bill mentioned that he didn’t meet his father’s expectations, stating he was not a “normal son” and was too quiet. Bill said he “crammed more living and contentment [in his short life] than most people [get] in a normal lifetime.” He then said about Cynthia, likely his girlfriend, “I wish I could leave some kind of love that will last all through her lifetime,” then ended the letter with “Goodbye… my dear ones, love to you, William.”
With a bit more checking, Bill had flown in operational missions at three times the average rate of most Spitfire pilots and was courageous and competent. One month before the ill-fated flight, he suffered a severe hernia and wrote to his parents. Bill talked about his ill health and trouble breathing, noting that a medical officer recommended six months of operational leave, but his Commanding Officer only gave him one month off. He also sharply criticized his CO in the letters. The army censors intercepted the letters, and Bill received a reprimand. Bill’s CO told him he was not measuring up and had a despicable nature.
Soon after, on 12 April 1942, Pilot William Fortt flew in the ill-fated reconnaissance mission destined for enemy territory. When at high altitude, eyewitnesses say the Spitfire did a sustained, high-speed nose-dive to the earth, resulting in the plane exploding and burning on impact. The RCAF could not determine why Bill lost control of the Spitfire; they speculated that he blacked out due to a lack of oxygen. Ultimately, we do not know why this brave pilot crashed the Spitfire and died at 21.
Bill with a Spitfire Mark V.
Canadian Pilot William Fortt was a courageous soldier that penned loving words to his family. Bill completed many operational missions but died mysteriously, under questionable circumstances, flew his Spitfire at high altitude, then nose-dived to a “strange and useless” death. Bill was one of the 17,397 Canadian RCAF airmen that did not survive the Second World War, and his tragic yet courageous story deserves retelling. The curious ‘Not to be Read’ letter only adds to the mystery and intrigue.
By Andrew Oakden