Borrett, William Fleming
Personal Information
Rank | F/L |
Forename(s) | William Fleming |
Surname | Borrett |
Gender | M |
Age | 29 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 16-01-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Roger Fleming Borrett and Alice Louise Borrett (née Tamlin), of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Husband of Viola Sylvia Borrett (née Bretthauer), marriage in Winnipeg, 23 May 1942. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | NR253 |
Markings | 6U-L |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 9. B. 26. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 133 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/9468 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 415 (Swordfish) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Centre, Sutton on the Forest, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone & Metal Sun Dial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to all those who served at RAF East Moor and in particular 415 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
William was born on 9 December 1915 at Winnipeg, Manitoba. His father was born in Norfolk, England and was a fruit grower, and his mother was born in Plymouth, Devon, England. His parents married in New Zealand in 1908. The schools he went to were Point Grey Junior high, 1922-1930 (general), Vancouver. Burnaby South High School, 1930-1934 (graduated) British Columbia followed by Inter Training Institute, Chicago, USA 1939 -1940. (Refrigeration and Air conditioning). His sporting interests were swimming, tennis and hiking. William worked as a logger for Bloedel, Stewart & Welch, Bloedel B.C. 1935-1936; as a dishwasher on the steamship C.P. SS Princess Louise in August 1934 (seasonal job), and for M.M.Vartian, San Francisco 1937-1940 as a Garage man (driver, lubricator and washer). |
He enlisted on 6 May 1941. After early training he embarked from Halifax on 20 Jan 1944, arriving in the U.K. at 3PRC on 1 February 1944, 6(P) AFU, 11 April 1944, 24 OTU 27 June 1944, 1659 CU 15 November 1944 and 415 Squadron on 27 December 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1813/16 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1813/15 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 16-01-1945 |
End Date | 17-01-1945 |
Takeoff Station | East Moor |
Day/Night Raid | Night (10% moon) |
Operation | Magdeburg. 371 aircraft, 17 losses (4.6%). Bomber Command claimed a successful area raid with 44% of the built-up area of the town being destroyed. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Borne, SSW of Magdeburg, Germany |