Colville, William Freeborne (Flight Sergeant)

Killed in Action 1942-May-06

Flight Sergeant William Freeborne Colville RCAF

Birth Date: 1917-April-29

Born: Bowmanville, Ontario

Parents: Alexander & Annie Josephine Colville

Spouse:

Home: Bowmanville, Ontario (parents)

Enlistment: Toronto, Ontario

Enlistment Date: 1940-October-23

Service

RCAF

Unit

11 (BR) Sqn- Squadron

Base

RCAF Stn, Torbay, Newfoundland

Rank

Flight Sergeant

Position

Pilot

Service Numbers

R/78383

Home
Google MapBowmanville, Ontario (parents)
Final Burial
Google MapCWG Cemetery
grave Plot 3 Row 3 Grave 15

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 KIFA Sergeant Harold Fulford Taylor RCAF R/71922 KIFA

Passengers Killed: F/Lt Rudolf Irwin Ehrlichman RCAF C/2637 KIFA Sergeant Montezuma Hold Brothers RCAF R/51548 KIFA Cpl. Charles Frederick Else RCAF 18103A KIFA LAC Norman Clifford Fleischman RCAF R/84289 KIFA LAC Smith Edward Crymes RCAF R/70569 KIFA.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

www.findagrave.com

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Crew or Other Personnel

Hudson 761

Sergeant Monty Holt Brothers RCAF

Sergeant Brothers, Monty Holt (RCAF)

Killed in Action
1942-May-06
CWG Cemetery, Gander, Newfoundland, Canada

Flight Sergeant William Freeborne Colville RCAF

Flight Sergeant Colville, William Freeborne (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Action
1942-May-06
CWG Cemetery, Gander, Newfoundland, Canada

Leading Aircraftman Smith Edward Crymes RCAF

Leading Aircraftman Crymes, Smith Edward (RCAF)
armourer
Killed in Action
1942-May-06
CWG Cemetery, Gander, Newfoundland, Canada

Flight Lieutenant Rudolph Irwin Ehrlichman RCAF

Flight Lieutenant Ehrlichman, Rudolph Irwin (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Action
1942-May-06
CWG Cemetery, Gander, Newfoundland, Canada

Corporal Charles Frederick Else RCAF

Corporal Else, Charles Frederick (RCAF)
air frame mechanic
Killed in Action
1942-May-06
CWG Cemetery, Gander, Newfoundland, Canada

Leading Aircraftman Norman Clifford Fleischman RCAF

Leading Aircraftman Fleischman, Norman Clifford (RCAF)

Killed in Action
1942-May-06
CWG Cemetery, Gander, Newfoundland, Canada

Flight Lieutenant Joseph Hyacinthe Ulysses Le Blanc RCAF

Flight Lieutenant Le Blanc, Joseph Hyacinthe Ulysses (RCAF)
administration
Killed in Action
1942-May-06
CWG Cemetery, Gander, Newfoundland, Canada

Flight Sergeant Harold Fulford Taylor RCAF

Flight Sergeant Taylor, Harold Fulford (RCAF)
Wireless Air Gunner
Killed in Action
1942-May-06
CWG Cemetery, Gander, Newfoundland, Canada

Hudson serial: 761

Lockheed Hudson
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.

YouTube Hudson

Wikipedia Wikipedia Hudson

unvetted Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrel Publications Hudon - Kestrel Publications

Aircraft Images

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

Unit Desciption

11 (BR) Sqn ()