Kyle, William Thomas
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | William Thomas |
Surname | Kyle |
Gender | M |
Age | 27 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 20-02-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of WIlliam Harold Kyle and Roonie Kyle (née Laurence ), of Manitoba. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Bristol Blenheim IV |
Serial Number | Z5899 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Sutton Coldfield New Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Grave 3. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 60 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/71497 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 7 |
Squadron | 17 OTU |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Kyle Bay, Manitoba; The northern tip of Forsman Lane |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Bay |
Memorial Text |
Location | On Grass Verge, Ramsey Rd, Upwood, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | From RAF Upwood, crews from 139 and 156 Sqns, No 8 Pathfinder Group marked targets for Bomber Command |
Location | Village Centre, Silverstone, Northamptonshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Village Sign & Inscribed Slate Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of No. 17 OTU, Silverstone Airfield. 1943 - 1946 |
Location | Within Motor Racing Circuit, Silverstone, Northamptonshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone & Stencilled RoH |
Memorial Text | Per Ardua Ad Astra to those who served No.17 OTU R.A.F. Silverstone. 1943 - 1946 |
Location | Road Bridge over A43, Turweston, Northamptonshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Framed Scroll |
Memorial Text | Remembered with Honour, Bomber Command, 17 OTU, RAF Silverstone and RAF Turweston. 1943 - 1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
William was born at Gimli, Manitoba on 25 April 1914. His father was born at Henset, Ontario and was a builder and contractor and his mother, who was deceased by the time of William's enlistment, was born at Gimli. After his Mother’s death his father re-married a lady named Lucille. He had two brothers, Wilton Henry and Lawrence Harold and two sisters Elizabeth and Winifred. He attended Riverview school, Manitoba 1920-1927 (grades 1-8); Kelvin School, Manitoba, 1928-1931 (grades 8-11); studying wood trimming and electric shops and Kelvin Night School 1931-1933 (Blue print reading and auto mechanics) The sports William was interested in were bowling, hockey, golf, skiing, skating and swimming and his hobby was anything to do with aircraft. He was a family member of Kyle and sons builders, Winnipeg, where he worked as an apprentice carpenter 1931-1935, for H. Moore as an apprentice mechanic. 1936-1939 and for Dominion Motors as a Service Salesman from 1939-1940. |
William enlisted on 16 October 1940 and embarked from Canada for the U.K. on 15 August 1941. He arrived at 3PRC on 15 September 1941, and 17 OTU 14 October 1941. |
His brother Wilton Henry was also in the RCAF after enlisting on his 21st birthday. Sadly at the age of 22, he also lost his life. He was Sgt observer R/106142 and he was in a Liberator of the North Atlantic Ferry Command Service when it crashed at Newfoundland on 9 February 1943. |
Casualty Pack Number Find Out More
AIR 81/12223 (P366234/42) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 20-02-1942 |
End Date | 20-02-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Upwood |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Navigation exercise |
Reason for Loss | During low-level exercise hit barrage balloon cable near Birmingham and crashed |