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Colwill, William Clifford (Sergeant)

Killed in Action 1942-October-24

Birth Date: 1919 (age 23)

William Mervin Colwill & Gladys M. Colwill

Home: St Thomas, Ontario (parents)

Service
RCAF
Unit
207 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Semper Paratus Always prepared
Base
RAF Langar
Rank
Sergeant
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Air Gunner
Service Numbers
R/90227

Took off from Langar at 12:41 in Lancaster Mk I (Sqn code EM-B Bomber Command) on an operation to Milan Italy.

Shot down and crashed in the sea off Blainville sur Mer, France and some 30 km SE of Jersey, Channel Islands.

Killed: Sergeant William Clifford Colwill RCAF R/90227 KIA Cherbourg Old Communal Cemetery Plot 6. Row D. Grave 12. Flight Sergeant John Francis McCallum RCAF R/75315 KIA Ouistreham-Riva-Bella Communal Cemetery Grave 57. Sergeant Lionel Horace Bell RAF KIA Cabourg Communal Cemetery Mil. Plot. Row 7. Grave 1. Sergeant William Bell RAF KIA Blonville Sur Mer Churchyard. Sergeant Albert John Victor Hunt RAF KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 117. Flight Sergeant Dennis Kilvington Potter RAF KIA Cherbourg Old Communal Cemetery Plot 6. Row D. Grave 13. Flight Sergeant Sydney Douglas Gowshall Roberts RAF KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 76. Sergeant Walter George Woodhouse RAF KIA Cherbourg Old Communal Cemetery Plot 6. Row D. Grave 11. Flight Sergeant Lawrence Ritelli Wright RAF KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 77.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Home
Google MapSt Thomas, Ontario (parents)
Target
Google MapMilan Italy

Lancaster W4121

Avro Lancaster

Avro Lancaster Mk. X RCAF Serial FM 213
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Avro Lancaster is a British Second World War heavy bomber. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stirling, all three aircraft being four-engined heavy bombers adopted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the same wartime era.

The Lancaster has its origins in the twin-engine Avro Manchester which had been developed during the late 1930s in response to the Air Ministry Specification P.13/36 for a capable medium bomber for "world-wide use". Originally developed as an evolution of the Manchester (which had proved troublesome in service and was retired in 1942), the Lancaster was designed by Roy Chadwick and powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlins and in one version, Bristol Hercules engines. It first saw service with RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and as the strategic bombing offensive over Europe gathered momentum, it was the main aircraft for the night-time bombing campaigns that followed. As increasing numbers of the type were produced, it became the principal heavy bomber used by the RAF, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and squadrons from other Commonwealth and European countries serving within the RAF, overshadowing the Halifax and Stirling. Wikipedia

YouTube Lancaster Bomber

Wkikpedia Wikipedia

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

last update: 2021-09-18 14:32:33

Lancaster Mk.I W4121

Delivered to No.207 Sqn from No. 39 MU Oct 1942. Missing on daylight operation to Milan 24 Oct 1942. 8 flying hours.

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