Shepherd, William Clarence (Flying Officer)

Evader 1944-June-16

Male Head

Birth Date: unkown date

Born:

Parents:

Spouse:

Home:

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RCAF

Unit

635 (PFF) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Nos Ducimus Ceteri Secunter We lead, others follow

Base

RAF Downham Market

Rank

Flying Officer

Position

Bomb Aimer

Service Numbers

J/24030

Target
Google MapLens France

Flying Officer Shepherd was safe, back in the UK, 1944-09-06

RAF Evaders, The Comprehensive Story of Thousands of Escapers and Their Escape Lines, Western Europe, 1940-1945 by Oliver Clutton-Brock, page 398

Unvetted Source Escaper List

635 Squadron (Nos ducimus ceteri secunter) Pathfinder Force, RAF Downham Market. Lancaster III aircraft JB 728 F2-B was lost on an operation against railway yards at Lens, France in support of the D-Day landings, cause unknown. The Lancaster crashed near Beaurains, Pas-de-Calais, France

Flying Officer James Caterer (RAFVR) was killed in action and was buried in France

Sergeant William Joseph Beeson (RAFVR), Sergeant Dennis Farrall (RAFVR) and Sergeant Harold Skutt (RAFVR) were all missing, presumed killed in action

The missing have no known grave and all are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial

Sergeant Lawrence Benson (RAFVR) survived and evaded for about 10 days but was captured and taken as a Prisoner of War

Flying Officer William Clarence Shepherd (RCAF) and Sergeant Michael F Haberlin (RAFVR) both survived and escaped capture as Evaders

Unvetted Source Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

Unvetted Source France-Crashes 39-45 Search

Crew or Other Personnel

Lancaster JB728

Sergeant William Joseph Beeson RAFVR

Sergeant Beeson, William Joseph (RAFVR)
Air Gunner (Rear)
Killed in Action
1944-June-16
cemetery unknown

Sergeant Lawrence Benson RAFVR

Sergeant Benson, Lawrence (RAFVR)
Flight Engineer
Prisoner of War
1944-June-16
cemetery unknown

Flying Officer James Caterer RAFVR

Flying Officer Caterer, James (RAFVR)
Pilot
Killed in Action
1944-June-16
cemetery unknown

Sergeant Dennis Farrall RAFVR

Sergeant Farrall, Dennis (RAFVR)
Air Gunner (Mid-Upper)
Killed in Action
1944-June-16
cemetery unknown

Sergeant Michael F Haberlin RAFVR

Sergeant Haberlin, Michael F (RAFVR)
Navigator
Evader
1944-June-16
cemetery unknown

Flying Officer William Clarence Shepherd RCAF

Flying Officer Shepherd, William Clarence (RCAF)
Bomb Aimer
Evader
1944-June-16
cemetery unknown

Sergeant Harold Skutt RAFVR

Sergeant Skutt, Harold (RAFVR)
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Killed in Action
1944-June-16
cemetery unknown

Mission

Lancaster Mk.III JB728

Bombing Lens France 1944-June-15 to 1944-June-16

635 (PFF) Sqn (RAF) RAF Downham Market

635 Squadron (Nos ducimus ceteri secunter) Pathfinder Force, RAF Downham Market. Lancaster III aircraft JB 728 F2-B was lost on an operation against railway yards at Lens, France in support of the D-Day landings, cause unknown. The Lancaster crashed near Beaurains, Pas-de-Calais, France

Flying Officer James Caterer (RAFVR) was killed in action and was buried in France

Sergeant William Joseph Beeson (RAFVR), Sergeant Dennis Farrall (RAFVR) and Sergeant Harold Skutt (RAFVR) were all missing, presumed killed in action

The missing have no known grave and all are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial

Sergeant Lawrence Benson (RAFVR) survived and evaded for about 10 days but was captured and taken as a Prisoner of War

Flying Officer William Clarence Shepherd (RCAF) and Sergeant Michael F Haberlin (RAFVR) both survived and escaped capture as Evaders

Unvetted Source Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

Unvetted Source France-Crashes 39-45 Search