Henderson, William
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | William |
Surname | Henderson |
Gender | M |
Age | 25 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 14-04-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of William Henderson and Annie Henderson (née McDonald), of Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster X |
Serial Number | KB866 |
Markings | VR-M |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 280. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 180 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/95547 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 419 (Moose) |
Trade | Wireless Operator |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Outside Former St. Georges Hotel, Teesside Airport, County Durham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Memorial Tablet on Stone Memorial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to Nos 419, 420 and 428 Sqns RCAF who flew from RAF Middleton St George during WW2 |
Miscellaneous Information
William was born at Cranbrook, British Columbia on 3 February 1920. His father was born at Perth, Scotland and worked as a CPR machinist and his mother was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He had a brother John and a married sister Margaret. He attended Cranbrook Central School 1926-1934, then Cranbrook High School between 1934-1939. William's hobbies were hunting and fishing and he played hockey, baseball and football. Workwise William spent four summers harvesting. He had also undertaken aircraft work at Boeing’s factory in Vancouver, B.C. |
He enlisted on 21 July 1941. and after training was posted to the U.K. He embarked from Halifax on 2 June 1944 arriving at 3 (RCAF) PRC on 11 June , then continued to 6 (O) AFU. 4 July 1944, 3PRC 15 August 1944, 22 OTU 22 August 1944, 76 Base 1 December 1944 and 419 Squadron on 12 March 1945. Sadly William then lost his life the following month on 14 April 1945. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1823/32 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1823/31 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 13-04-1945 |
End Date | 14-04-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Middleton St. George |
Day/Night Raid | Night (3% moon) |
Operation | Kiel- to bomb the U-boat yards |
Reason for Loss | Lost without trace |