The Kamikaze Hunter: Clapham’s Lieutenant Walter “Wally” T. Stradwick

By John Dekhane 

Lieutenant Walter “Wally” T. Stradwick was a fighter pilot of the British Pacific Fleet, whose selflessness and bravery were pivotal in confronting the relentless Japanese kamikaze threat during the Second World War.

Mr Stradwick’s story reveals the harrowing experience of a young man caught in the devastation of war, flying high-risk missions, never knowing if he would return. 

His dedication and determination as a fighter pilot saved countless Allied sailors and played a vital role in ending the conflict in the Pacific.

Born in 1923, in Clapham, Walter Thomas Stradwick, known as Wally, was a kind and friendly young man who was always eager to bring joy to those he loved. 

By the time he was in his early 20s, the war was consuming the world, and Wally, driven by an extraordinary sense of duty and patriotism, enlisted in the Royal Navy. 

He joined the British Pacific Fleet as a fighter pilot, becoming part of the battle to ensure Allied victory in the Pacific theatre. 

The British Pacific Fleet played a key role in the Allied efforts against Japan, often collaborating with American forces.

Mr Stradwick flew from the aircraft carrier HMS Formidable, one of the Royal Navy’s premier carriers. 

The HMS Formidable was involved in several major operations, but it was the relentless threat of kamikaze attacks that defined much of the fleet’s activity in 1945. 

The Japanese had turned to the kamikaze, a tactic where pilots deliberately crashed their planes into enemy ships, in a desperate attempt to halt the advancing Allied forces. The British Pacific Fleet was tasked with neutralising this threat, and Mr Stradwick was at the heart of this perilous mission.

In his diary, Wally Stradwick wrote about the fear and courage that defined his daily life as a fighter pilot.

“God knows I’m just as scared as anybody flying on any op, but that disappears once the fun starts. I like the idea of fighting with brains and skill. Air to air fighting is the ideal. You have to use both whether the odds are for or against you.”

Stradwick’s words reflect his acknowledgment of fear, but also his focus on skill and strategy in the face of danger.

One of his key missions was to intercept and destroy the Japanese kamikaze pilots before they reached their targets.

This task was especially important because the kamikaze planes were targeting vital naval vessels, including aircraft carriers, battleships and transport ships, which carried large numbers of sailors and soldiers.

Mr Stradwick’s ability to track down and neutralize these threats was crucial in saving the lives of hundreds of Allied sailors who would have otherwise been doomed by these suicidal attacks.

On July 14, 1945, Mr Stradwick reflected in his diary about the tension and danger of strafing missions. “At the vital moment when you are down over the target in full view of the defenders, I maintain that the odds are pretty high that some, maybe only one gunner, has a near enough no-deflection shot on you.

“Hence, at the only time that matters, your life depends to a very great extent on absolute luck. All that comprises the one fact that gives us the jolly old twinge of twitch.

“However, we shall force on,” Mr Stradwick wrote, showing both his self-awareness and his resolve to continue, despite the overwhelming dangers.

The atmosphere aboard the HMS Formidable was one of permanent stress, as pilots like Mr Stradwick prepared to engage in perilous missions over enemy territory.

Despite the constant risks of being shot down, captured or killed, Mr Stradwick was known for his calm demeanour and his strategic thinking in the face of adversity.

His ability to combine fearlessness with calculated risk was a hallmark of his character, and it earned him respect from both his fellow pilots and the sailors he worked tirelessly to protect.

However, despite his exceptional skill and bravery, Mr Stradwick’s life was tragically cut short during a mission on July 18, 1945. Just days after writing his thoughts about strafing, Mr Stradwick took off for another perilous mission, this time targeting an airfield east of Tokyo.

As he flew low over the target, his Corsair was struck by anti-aircraft fire. The impact was fatal, and Mr Stradwick’s plane crashed, killing him instantly. He was just 22 years old.

Mr Stradwick’s death was a heartbreaking loss for his loved ones in England, and an irreplaceable loss for the British Pacific Fleet, which had relied on his outstanding courage in the fight against the kamikaze threat.

His ultimate sacrifice embodied the risks faced by fighter pilots who, almost every day, flew into hell for a heavenly cause.

Mr Stradwick’s death is a tragic reminder of the dedication and bravery of those who gave their lives for the values we cherish.

Today, Wally Stradwick is buried at the Yokohama War Cemetery in Japan, a final resting place for a British hero who sacrificed everything to end a never-ending war.

Like so many airmen, Mr Stradwick gave up his future—never returning home, never marrying, never having children, and never growing old.

As we mark the 80th anniversary of his death, it is our solemn duty to honour his sacrifice and ensure his memory lives on.

We are the guardians of his legacy, and his story must inspire future generations to never forget the price of freedom.

Pictured top: Clapham born Lieutenant Walter “Wally” T. Stradwick was a fighter pilot of the British Pacific Fleet (Picture: Maureen Stradwick)