Freeman, William Joseph (Flying Officer)
Killed in Action 1943-February-13
Birth Date: 1921-September-29
Born:
Parents:
Spouse:
Home: Battle Lake, Alberta
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
35 (PFF) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Uno Anima Agimus We Act with One Accord
Base
RAF Graveley
Rank
Flying Officer
Position
Air Gunner
Service Numbers
J/10162
Battle Lake, Alberta
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Crew or Other Personnel
Halifax W7885
Mission
Halifax B.Mk.II W7885
Bombing Lorient France 1943-February-13 to 1943-February-13
35 (PFF) Sqn (RAF) RAF Graveley
35 Madras Presidency Squadron (Uno Amino Agimus) RAF Graveley Pathfinder Force. Halifax III aircraft W 7885 TL-B failed toreturn from an operation against the submarine pens at Lorient, France. Hit by Flak over the target and subsequently abandoned, the Halifax crashed near Leigne-ar-Menez 10 km west of Carhaix, France
Flying Officer WJ Freeman (RCAF was killed in action
Sergeant DC Young (RAFVR) survived and was taken as Prisoner of War
Sergeant JN Barry (RCAF), Flying Officer GHF Carter (RCAF), Flying Officer JC Thomas (RCAF), Sergeant ER Turenne (RCAF) and Sergeant R Martin (RAFVR) survived and all became Evaders
Previous Events
1943-February-04 Flying Officer Survived
Halifax B.Mk.IITL-D |
35 PFF Sqn RCAF |
Flying Officer WJ Freeman (RCAF) survived, safe |
|
Halifax B.Mk.II W7923
Bombing Hamburg Germany 1943-February-03 to 1943-February-04
35 (PFF) Sqn (RAF) RAF Graveley
35 Madras Presidency Squadron RAF (Uno Anima Agimus), Pathfinder Force, RAF Graveley. Halifax III aircraft W 7923 TL-D was struck by flak in the undercarriage during an operation to Hamburg, Germany. On return to base after the operation, the damage caused by the flak would not allow the undercarriage to be lowered for landing. The pilot, Flying Officer Thomas made a successful belly landing at RAF Graveley and the crew all survived, without injury
Flying Officer GHF Carter (RCAF), Flying Officer JC Thomas (RCAF), Sergeant JN Barry (RCAF), Flying Officer WJ Freeman (RCAF), Sergeant ER Turenne (RCAF), Sergeant R Martin (RAFVR) and Sergeant DC Young (RAFVR) all survived safe
This crew would be shot down ten days later during an operation against the submarine pens at Lorient, France 1943-02-13/14
Halifax W7885 B.Mk.II - Bombing Lorient France - 1943-02-13 to 1943-02-13
Squadron: 35 (PFF) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1943-02-13
Completion Date: 1943-02-13
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Lorient France
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Graveley
Take Off Time: 18:20
Squadron Code: TL-B
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: France
Crash Specifics: near Leigne-ar-Menez 10 km west of Carhaix
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: flak
Flak Battery: unspecified
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
35 Madras Presidency Squadron (Uno Amino Agimus) RAF Graveley Pathfinder Force. Halifax III aircraft W 7885 TL-B failed toreturn from an operation against the submarine pens at Lorient, France. Hit by Flak over the target and subsequently abandoned, the Halifax crashed near Leigne-ar-Menez 10 km west of Carhaix, France
Flying Officer WJ Freeman (RCAF was killed in action
Sergeant DC Young (RAFVR) survived and was taken as Prisoner of War
Sergeant JN Barry (RCAF), Flying Officer GHF Carter (RCAF), Flying Officer JC Thomas (RCAF), Sergeant ER Turenne (RCAF) and Sergeant R Martin (RAFVR) survived and all became Evaders
[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...