Bent, William Thomas
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | William Thomas |
Surname | Bent |
Gender | M |
Age | 26 |
Decorations | DFM |
Date of Death | 09-11-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of William and Emma Bent (née Dutton), of Glen White, West Virginia, USA. Husband of Bernice Raye Bent (née Howze), whom he married on 31 August 1941 in Rochester, Minnesota. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington III |
Serial Number | BJ711 |
Markings | QT-Z |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hamburg Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 8A. C. 1-15. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 8 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/15845 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 142 |
Squadron Motto | Determination |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United States of America |
Miscellaneous Information
William was born at Glen White, West Virginia, USA on 22 August 1916. Both parents were born in Lancashire, England and his father was a miner (electrical). They were all shown as American citizens. He had two sisters Ivy and Dorothy. He attended Glen White Grade School between 1922- 1931 (general). He then went to Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, West Virginia 1931 -1934 (college prep). William then worked as a Store Clerk for PJ Catlett at Beckley between 1934-1936 before returning to school. After that he attended Marshall College between 1936-1939 (a 3 year pre-medicine course) to attain a B.Sc. Degree. The sports he enjoyed were boxing, baseball, basketball, swimming and tennis. His hobby was photography. William worked as a Conveyor Man in a coal mine in West Virginia between 1938-1940. |
He enlisted on 30 November 1940, during the period for which the United States was still neutral and in so doing, risked his citizenship. After completing his training William was posted the U.K., embarking from Canada on 18 September 1941. He arrived at 3PRC on 28 September 1941 and then went to 27 OTU 21 October 1941 and 142 Squadron on 13 May 1942. Sadly William lost his life on 9 November 1942. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/973/22 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/973/21 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 09-11-1942 |
End Date | 10-11-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Grimsby |
Day/Night Raid | Night (3% moon) |
Operation | Hamburg |
Reason for Loss | Crashed in the Hamburg area |