William Dennis David, CBE, DFC & Bar, AFC (25 July 1918 – 25 August 2000) was a British Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War.

87 Squadron on the outbreak of the Second World War, he flew extensively in the Battle of France and claimed several aerial victories during this time.

He remained in the RAF in the post-war period, eventually rising to the rank of Group Captain by the time of his retirement in 1967.

William Dennis David was born on 25 July 1918 in Surbiton, in what was then the English county of Surrey but now Greater London.

Based at Lille for most of the Phoney War, the squadron patrolled along the front lines and sought to intercept Luftwaffe aircraft.

[3] On 10 May, the first day of the German invasion of France, David claimed a He 111 as destroyed near Senon, as well as two Dornier Do 17 medium bombers, one being shared with another pilot.

[2][3] In the interim, David had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Bar, having shot down eleven aircraft in less than two weeks during the campaign in France.

[4] The citation for the DFC read: This officer has recently shot down four enemy aircraft and shown gallantry and devotion to duty compatible with the highest traditions of the service.

He supported his leader with great courage and determination, shooting down two enemy aircraft.The citation for the Bar was published five days later, and read: This officer continued to display a fine offensive spirit and during the past few days he has shot down three more enemy aircraft, making a total of eleven in all.At the start of July, No.

[7] On 11 August, David shot down a Bf 109 and Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber to the south-west of Portland Bill.

After six months service in this role, he returned to operational duties with a promotion to acting wing commander and a posting to lead No.

This was based at Castel Benito in Libya, operating the Bristol Beaufighter heavy fighter on intruder missions to German-occupied Crete.

[2][13] David led it in the Burma campaign until March 1944, at which time he was appointed sector commander at Trincomalee.

[1] Promoted to acting group captain later in the year, David became air advisor at the headquarters of the Indian Army's XV Corps in Arakan.

On his return to the United Kingdom in April 1946, he opted to remain in the RAF, which required him drop a rank, back to squadron leader.

[14] In 1949, he was posted to the Middle East to command a wing of fighter jets, based at Deversoir near the Suez Canal.

He was Air Attaché at the British embassy in Budapest during the Hungarian uprising later that year; at this time, he assisted many people in escaping the country.

[2] Promoted to group captain on 1 July 1960,[16] David was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1961 New Year Honours.

He was active in veteran's affairs, being involved with the RAF Benevolent Fund and Royal Air Forces Association.