Towers-Perkins attended Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School in London. Another pupil who would serve in the RAF was the future Flying Officer Donald Edward Garland of No 12 Squadron, who was awarded a posthumous VC, together with his observer, Sergeant Thomas Gray, following the attack by Fairey Battles on bridges over the Albert canal on 12 May 1940.
Bill Towers-Perkins went on to Queen Mary College, London, and learned to fly as a member of the University Air Squadron. Called up in November 1939, he was commissioned on the 18th of the month.
With training completed, Towers-Perkins joined No 238 Squadron at Middle Wallop on 13 July 1940 direct from Flying Training School. He arrived at 6 Operational Training Unit, Sutton Bridge on attachment on 3 August and, after converting to Hurricanes, he rejoined 238 on the 20th.
Towers-Perkins was shot down in an action with Ju 88s south of Tunbridge Wells on 11 September 1940. He baled out, wounded and burned, and was admitted to Tunbridge Wells Hospital. His Hurricane, P 3096, is believed to be one that crashed near Withyham post office.Later transferred to the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, Towers-Perkins underwent plastic surgery by Archie McIndoe and was a founder-member and the first secretary of the Guinea Pig Club for disfigured RAF aircrew treated at East Grinstead.
He was released from the RAF in 1946.
