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Girvin, William Ivan (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Action 1944-June-11

Birth Date: 1918-August-06 (age 25)

Born: Toronto Ontario Canada

Son of William Ivan and Catherine Hanna Girvin, of Collingwood, Ontario, Canada.

Home: Collingwood, Ontario Canada

Service
RCAF
Unit
98 Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Never Failing
Rank
Pilot Officer
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
Wireless Air Gunner
Service Numbers
J/92124
Prev: R/137802

Pilot Officer William Ivan Girvin and crew were shot down in 98 Squadron Mitchell II RAF Serial FW184 (VO-D) on 11 Jun 44 during a "˜nitelite' operation where Mitchells dropped flares to illuminate roadways for attacks by Mosquito aircraft on German military traffic. There was no flak, but German night fighters were up in strength; Oblt. Josef Krause of 6./NJG 101 (Night fighter Group) was credited in OKL (Luftwaffe) records with the victory.

The crew comprised:

  • Pilot Officer Walter Vincent Thurston RAAF (Pilot) KIA
  • Sergeant Frances George Dean RAFVR (Observer) KIA
  • Pilot Officer William Ivan Girvin RCAF (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) KIA
  • Flight Sergeant Arthur Ivan Zado RCAF (Air Gunner) PoW

This was the crew's 37th operation. Their first was 18 Mar 44; their record included raids against:

  • 13 Railway marshalling yards
  • 10 "˜Noball' (V-1 Rocket) sites
  • 5 Gun positions
  • 3 Airfields
  • 2 Railway junctions
  • 1 Troop position
  • The Panzer West Headquarters (The "˜Dinner Raid' of 10 Jun 44)
  • 2 German night-time traffic movements (flare-dropping)

Pilot Officer William Girvin was Killed in Action and interred in the Banneville-la-Campagne War Cemetery in France as were crewmates Pilot Officer Thurston and Sergeant Dean. Flight Sergeant Zado became a Prisoner of War

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Finadagrave.com

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

Home
Google MapCollingwood, Ontario Canada
Burial
Google MapWar Cemetery
Coll grave XIV C 7

Mitchell FW184

North American Mitchell B-25 B-25D B-25J

North American B-25J Mitchell Mk. III
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Major General William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allied air forces, the B-25 served in every theater of World War II, and after the war ended, many remained in service, operating across four decades. Produced in numerous variants, nearly 10,000 B-25s were built.

The North American B-25 Mitchell was flown by the RCAF during and after the Second World War. The RCAF flew the B-25 Mitchell for training during the war and continued flying operations after the war, in Canada with most of 162 Mitchells received. The first B-25s had originally been diverted to Canada from RAF orders. These included one Mitchell Mk. I, 42 Mitchell Mk. IIs, and 19 Mitchell Mk. IIIs. No 13 (P) Squadron was formed unofficially at RCAF Station Rockcliffe in May 1944 and flew Mitchell Mk. IIs on high-altitude aerial photography sorties. No. 5 OTU (Operational Training Unit) at Boundary Bay, British Columbia and Abbotsford, British Columbia, operated the B-25D Mitchell in a training role together with B-24 Liberators for Heavy Conversion as part of the BCATP. The RCAF retained the Mitchell until October 1963.

No. 418 (Auxiliary) Squadron received its first Mitchell Mk. IIs in January 1947. It was followed by No. 406 (Auxiliary), which flew Mitchell Mk. IIs and Mk. IIIs from April 1947 to June 1958. No. 418 Operated a mix of Mk. IIs and Mk. IIIs until March 1958. No. 12 Squadron of Air Transport Command also flew Mitchell Mk. IIIs along with other types from September 1956 to November 1960. In 1951, the RCAF received an additional 75 B-25Js from USAF stocks to make up for attrition and to equip various second-line units.. Wikipedia and Harold Skaarup web page

YouTube Mitchell Bomber

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Mitchell Bomber

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (164), RCAF 400 Squadron (3), Canadian Aircraft Losses (73), Canadian Ferried (5), Canadian Museum(2)
last update: 2021-09-23 15:53:49

Mitchell Mk. ll FW184



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