Toronto, Ontario
Commonwealth War grave Stone
Reid, William Joseph (Warrant Officer 2nd Class)
Killed in Action 1943-May-13
Birth Date: 1921-July-07
Born: Warrenpoint Ireland UK
Parents:
Spouse:
Home: Toronto, Ontario
Enlistment: Toronto Onatrio Canada
Enlistment Date: 1941-January-23
Service
RCAF
Unit
61 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Per Purum Tonantes Thundering through the clear air
Base
Rank
Warrant Officer 2nd Class
Position
Wireless Air Gunner
Service Numbers
R/93374
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Crew or Other Personnel
Lancaster W4269
Mission
Lancaster Mk.I W4269
Bombing Duisburg Germany 1943-May-12 to 1943-May-13
61 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Syerston
From ORB:
Fourteen aircraft were ordered from the Squadron for operations against Duisburg, Thirteen aircraft attacked the target from heights varying from 16,500 to 21,000 feet bombing the TI [Target Indicator] markers. Several large explosions were seen. The defences were rather spasmodic. Photographs were taken which revealed fires and slight ground detail together with gun flashes. One aircraft failed to return [W4269].
Hit by Flak and crashed 0206 into the Zuiderzeepark at Amsterdam where all were originally buried.
Additional Crew not Canadian, all RAF, all Killed in Action:
- Pilot - Flight Sergeant Peter Henry Alderton
- Flight Engineer - Sergeant Sydney Lupton
- Navigator - Sergeant Robert Edward Sloan
- Air Gunner - Sergeant John Thomas
- Air Gunner - Sergeant Charles Douglas Whitehall
May 12-13 1943 ORB SummaryLancaster W4269 Mk.I - Bombing Duisburg Germany - 1943-05-12 to 1943-05-13
Squadron: 61 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1943-05-12
Completion Date: 1943-05-13
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Duisburg Germany
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Syerston
Take Off Time: 00:05:00
Squadron Code: QR-G
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Amsterdam Netherlands
Crash Specifics: Zuiderzeepark
Crash Latitude: 52.38809508
Crash Longitude: 4.95688123
Crash Reason: flak
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Bomber Group May 12/13, 1943
19 Halifaxes from 408 and 419 Squadrons were joined by 51 Wellingtons from 426, 428, 429, and 431 Squadrons on an attack at Duisberg. The crews were over the target at between 13,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 70,000 lbs of high explosives and 153,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the weather was clear and severe damage was caused to the port area and industrial sector, including the Thyssen steel works. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
From ORB:
Fourteen aircraft were ordered from the Squadron for operations against Duisburg, Thirteen aircraft attacked the target from heights varying from 16,500 to 21,000 feet bombing the TI [Target Indicator] markers. Several large explosions were seen. The defences were rather spasmodic. Photographs were taken which revealed fires and slight ground detail together with gun flashes. One aircraft failed to return [W4269].
Hit by Flak and crashed 0206 into the Zuiderzeepark at Amsterdam where all were originally buried.
Additional Crew not Canadian, all RAF, all Killed in Action:
- Pilot - Flight Sergeant Peter Henry Alderton
- Flight Engineer - Sergeant Sydney Lupton
- Navigator - Sergeant Robert Edward Sloan
- Air Gunner - Sergeant John Thomas
- Air Gunner - Sergeant Charles Douglas Whitehall
