Girvin, William Ivan (Pilot Officer)

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