Squadron Leader John Edwin Ashley "Willy" Williams DFC (6 May 1919 – 29 March 1944) was an Australian air ace during the Second World War.

[2] He served in the Middle East and North Africa with the Royal Air Force (RAF), and was among the Allied prisoners of war (POWs) murdered by the Gestapo following "The Great Escape" in 1944.

[5] Willams travelled to the United Kingdom where he joined the RAF as a pilot officer on a short service commission in 1938.

[14] During the Second Battle of El Alamein, DAF Kittyhawks played an important role, carrying out many ground attack sorties.

During the battle, on 28 October 1942, Williams was promoted to Acting Squadron Leader and was appointed Commanding Officer of No.

By early 1944, Williams and another 450 Sqn officer, Flight Lieutenant Reginald "Rusty" Kierath, found themselves imprisoned at Stalag Luft III, near Sagan, Germany.

They were both re-captured and on 29 March, along with three other Australian airmen, were among 50 Stalag Luft III POWs murdered by the Gestapo.