Howard, William Ross
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | William Ross |
Surname | Howard |
Gender | M |
Age | 24 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 07-05-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of Joseph James Howard and Margaret Maud Howard (née Smith), of Lang, Saskatchewan, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington IC |
Serial Number | Z8861 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 104. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 51 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/70896 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 22 OTU |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Howard Island, Saskatchewan |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Island |
Memorial Text |
Location | St. Peter's Church, Wellesbourne Mountford, Warwickshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A dedication to the men and women who were killed while serving with 22 OTU during World War 2 |
Miscellaneous Information
William was born on 26 June 1917 at Lang, Saskatchewan. His father was born at Creemore, Ontario and was a retired farmer and his mother was deceased by the time of William's enlistment. He had a brother, Joseph Robert. He attended Crocus Plains Public School 1924-1933 at Lang, followed by Milestone High School 1933-1935. The sports he enjoyed were baseball, hockey and swimming and he liked amateur photography. William worked for Ida Smith, farming, at Long Island 1933-1940. He then enlisted on 14 October 1940. |
After training he was posted to the U.K. and embarked from Canada on 19 June arriving at 3 PRC on 1 July 1941. He then went on to 1SS 7 July 1941, and 22 OTU on 25 November 1941. It was from there that William was to lose his life the following year on 7 May 1942. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 07-05-1942 |
End Date | 07-05-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Wellesbourne Mountford |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Training- night bombing practice |
Reason for Loss | Lost without trace during night cross-country exercise, believed to have crashed into the sea off Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset |