Girvin, William Ivan (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Action 1944-June-11

Pilot Officer William Ivan Girvin RCAF

Birth Date: 1918-August-06

Born: Toronto Ontario Canada

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

Home: Collingwood, Ontario Canada

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RCAF

Unit

98 Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Never Failing

Base

Rank

Pilot Officer

Position

Pilot Officer

Service Numbers

J/92124
Prev: R/137802

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

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

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

www.findagrave.com

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Mitchell serial: FW184

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

Wikipedia Wikipedia Mitchell Bomber

unvetted Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page