Burns, William Henry
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | William Henry |
Surname | Burns |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 13-10-1941 |
Next of Kin | Son of Frank Godwin Burns and Mary Margaret Burns (née Connors) of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V |
Serial Number | Z9155 |
Markings | GE-G |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Pocklington Burial Ground |
Grave Reference | W.47. 3233. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 139 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/64045 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 58 |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Miscellaneous Information
William was born on 30 July 1919 at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Both parents were born in Halifax where his father worked as a salesman in a clothing store. Mention is made in his records of a slightly older brother, Lyman, on active service in the RAF. The schools he attended were St.Thomas Aquinas, 1924-1932 and St. Mary’s College, 1933-1935, both in Halifax. His sport interests were hockey, skating, rowing, rugby and badminton amongst others. William worked as a clerk at Dominion Stores between 1935-1936 and then for three month's worked as a Board Marker at Johnson’s & Ward’s Stock Exchange during 1936. Between 1936-1940 he was a Ledger Keeper for Canada Permanent Mortgage Corporation. |
On 27 May 1940, William enlisted and after training was sent to the U.K. where he arrived on 2 March 1941. He then went to 12 OTU on 15 March 1941, 1.S.S. 3 April 1941, 19 OTU 24 May 1941, and 58 Squadron 21 July 1941. Sadly William lost his life on 13 October 1941 when theIr aircraft crashed whilst returning from an operation. They were diverted from their own base to Pocklington because of a nearby burning aircraft but ran out of fuel and had to make a forced landing. |
Casualty Pack Number Find Out More
AIR 81/9605 (P362956/41) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/544/20 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/544/19 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 12-10-1941 |
End Date | 13-10-1941 |
Takeoff Station | Linton-on-Ouse |
Day/Night Raid | Night (55% moon) |
Operation | Nuremburg |
Reason for Loss | Crashed 1 miles south of Pocklington while being diverted. Presumed to have run out of fuel |