Colville, William Freeborne
Killed in Action 1942-05-06
Birth Date: 1917-April-29
Born: Bowmanville, Ontario
Alexander & Annie Josephine Colville
Home: Bowmanville, Ontario (parents)
Enlistment: Toronto, Ontario
Enlistment Date: 1940-10-23
Service
RCAF
Unit
11 (BR) Sqn- Squadron
Base
RCAF Stn, Torbay, Newfoundland
Rank
Flight Sergeant
Position
Flight Sergeant
Service Numbers
R/78383
First Burial
E Gander Cemetery, Gander, Newfoundland
Took off from Torbay on a ferry trip to Dartmouth NS
On lift off one or both engine sputtered then the engines surge and the Hudson rises to 100 feet whereupon a left bank, develops and deepens, the plane sinks, drags the port wing tip, and cartwheels into a fiercely burning inverted pile of wreckage.
Crew Killed:F/Lt Joseph Hyacinthe Ulysses LeBlanc RCAF C907 KIFA Flight Sergeant William Freeborne Colville RCAF R/78383 KIFASergeant Harold Fulford Taylor RCAF R/71922 KIFA
Passengers Killed:F/Lt Rudolf Irwin Ehrlichman RCAF C/2637 KIFASergeant Montezuma Hold Brothers RCAF R/51548 KIFACpl. Charles Frederick Else RCAF 18103A KIFALAC Norman Clifford Fleischman RCAF R/84289 KIFALAC Smith Edward Crymes RCAF R/70569 KIFA.
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.comThis incident involved multiple aircraft:
- Hudson I Serial: 761
All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.
Hudson 761
Lockheed Hudson A-28 A-29 AT-18
Source National Air Force Museum of Canada.
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force (RAF) shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter. The Hudson served throughout the war, mainly with Coastal Command, but also in transport and training roles, as well as delivering agents into occupied France. They were also used extensively with the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) anti-submarine squadrons.National Air Force Museum of Canada.
Hudson
Wikipedia Hudson 
Harold A Skaarup Web Page 
Hudon - Kestrel Publications11 (BR) Sqn ()
Hudson 761
Hudson I 761
Diverted from RAF order, tested and delivered marked with RAF serial N7346. Operated by No. 11 (BR) Squadron, from 15 September 1939. To Eastern Air Command with this unit on 1 April 1940. Flew this squadron's first war time mission, naval cooperation and height finding with HMS Repulse and Furious, 10 November 1939. Aircraft had been on detachment to Torbay, Newfoundland, and was returning to Dartmouth for scheduled maintenance when it crashed at 17:42 on 6 May 1942. Developed engine trouble on lift off, struck the ground wing low and cart wheeled. Caught fire immediately. 8 fatalities, including pilot Flight Lieutenant H.J. Leblanc and people returning to Dartmouth on leave. First fatal crash at RCAF Station Torbay, and the largest.1939-09-15 Taken on Strength RCAF Station 2019-08-20
1942-May-06 Accident: 11 Squadron Loc: Rcaf Stnorth Torday Newfoundland Names: Brothers | Colville | Crymes | Ehrlichman | Else | Fleischman | Leblanc | Taylor
1943-04-16 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20