Halperin, William Lionel (Flight Lieutenant)
Killed in Flying Accident 1943-November-06
Birth Date: 1915-October-24
Born: Toronto, Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Canada
Parents:
Spouse: Husband of Kathleen Halperin
Home: Toronto, Ontario
Enlistment: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Enlistment Date: 1940-December-18
Service
RCAF
Unit
45 Group (RAF)
Base
Dorval, Quebec
Rank
Flight Lieutenant
Position
Navigator
Service Numbers
C/4234
Toronto, Ontario
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.comCrew or Other Personnel
Mitchell FW138
Mission
Mitchell Mitchell II FW138
Ferry Flight 1943-November-06 to 1943-November-06
45 (T) Group (RAF) Dorval, Quebec
45 Group RAF Transport Command, Dorval, Quebec. Mitchell aircraft FW 138 disappeared between from Goose Bay, Labrador and Reykjavik, Iceland with the loss of the aircraft and the entire four man crew, cause unknown
The aircraft was damaged by a storm while on a stopover at station Bluie West 1, Greenland before carrying on for Iceland. Whether this was a factor in the subsequent loss is unknown
Navigator, Flight Lieutenant WL Halperin (RCAF), Pilot/Captain, Flying Officer AC Monkiewicz (PAF), Wireless Operator, Flying Officer SJ Hansen (RAAF) and Pilot/1st Officer, Flight Lieutenant DJ Pyne (RAFVR) were all missing, presumed killed in this flying accident
The missing have no known grave. Halpern, Hansen and Pyne are commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial
Monkiewicz is commemorated on the Polish Air Force Memorial at RAF Northholt
Ocean Bridge, The History of RAF Ferry Command by Carl A Christie pages 321,373
[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...Mitchell serial: FW138
North American B-25J Mitchell Mk. III
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
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
Mitchell Bomber
Wikipedia Mitchell Bomber